De Zerbi-Brighton, divorce? The voices and the teams that want it

It took Roberto De Zerbi very little to conquer Brighton, who under his management have grown to play the best football in the Premier League, a brilliant and attacking one that everyone envies and on which the seagulls count on building their first qualification to a European cup. It is also for this instant success, however, that it may not last long: according to the Telegraph, in fact, the paths of Brighton and De Zerbi could part ways already at the end of the season.

Ambitions

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The success he is having with Brighton, 7th in the standings and in the running for the cups, has in fact put De Zerbi back on the radar of the big clubs, in the Premier League and in Europe. Impossible not to fall in love with his game, with his philosophy built on attacking football, constantly looking for the improvement of the team and the players. A way of doing things, based on not being satisfied and on trying to bring out the maximum potential of individual players within a tested system, which is also working in the best league in the world, after having already been successful at Sassuolo. It was working at Shakhtar Donetsk too, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine took away the jewel he was building from the 43-year-old coach. Brighton had fallen in love with De Zerbi even then, and when Graham Potter asked for permission to say goodbye to go to Chelsea at the beginning of September, he staked everything on him. The Italian has signed a 4-season contract with the seagulls, but according to the Telegraph, he would have a release clause of 13 million euros, just like Potter had. De Zerbi wants to keep improving: he wants to give Brighton qualification in Europe, but then he expects a team up to those ambitions, as he had already announced at the end of January when there was talk of Moises Caicedo’s possible departure to Arsenal , then stayed. “If he leaves, we need reinforcements to be able to continue aiming high – said De Zerbi -. If, on the other hand, we want to stay at a lower level, we’re fine with that. But it doesn’t suit me.”

Interested

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It could just be the desire for something more that prompted De Zerbi to look elsewhere, also because Brighton, whether European or not, could put their most precious jewels up for sale in the summer, starting with Caicedo and Alexis MacAllister, the champion of the world pivot of the midfield. One of the interested parties in England could be Tottenham, which in the event of Antonio Conte’s departure could reopen contact with that coach he had already thought about in the summer, before Conte decided to stay. But the Spurs could be just one of the suitors, with Serie A as a great suspect. Juve, to which a “playing” profile and with a propensity to work on young people would not mind in the event of a divorce with Allegri, but also the other big names in our home: for those who have to change coach at the end of the season, the name of De Zerbi could come back into fashion. The coach has everything to please: he brings out the best in whoever is there and always finds a way to improve his teams. An offer that includes the fight for the Scudetto and a place in the Champions League would be difficult to refuse. Brighton are the perfect team for De Zerbi’s landing in the Premier League, but they know well what ambitions they have and what level they can play at: as they have already done with Potter, although they are in love with her Roberto who has a contract for 4 seasons, she could give him permission to talk to other teams. And possibly even say goodbye.