Rino Gattuso has slammed the "keyboard hatred" which saw his move to Tottenham fall through.

Gattuso departed Napoli at the end of last season before being named Fiorentina coach. However, after a disagreement with president Rocco Commisso over transfer policy, Gattuso walked away from the job after agreeing a mutual termination of his contract.

After leaving Fiorentina just a month into his appointment, Gattuso was all set to take the Spurs job only for the offer to be withdrawn following an online backlash.

The Italy and AC Milan great told La Repubblica via TMW: "I find it hard to believe that this was the reason, at least the image of mine may have remained in their mind, the fight in 2011 with (Joe) Jordan, then assistant coach of Tottenham.

"I am certainly neither racist, nor sexist, nor homophobic: old statements of mine have been misrepresented. Why don't you ask my former teammates and the players I coached about my relationship with them?

"I have taken a southerner in all stadiums: as a racist I would not be very credible. As for the rest, I don't waste time on nonsense."

Gattuso insists he could handle the online abuse directed his way when news of his potential appointment at Spurs broke. However, the Italian says such a frenzy could have serious consequences for people not used to living in the public eye.

He continued: "Rather, my story teaches one thing: that keyboard hatred is very dangerous and very underestimated. I am a public figure and I have the strength to react to slander, but not everyone can handle it.

"There are those who may throw themselves out of the window out of weakness. It is a very serious problem: who can we expect to intervene?"

Gattuso remains a free agent, though after his work with Napoli is expected to soon land another top level coaching post.

Spurs, meanwhile, eventually turned to former Wolves manager Nuno, who was appointed by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy last week.

- updated June 6