Roberto De Zerbi reportedly dreams of managing AC Milan and Barcelona amid his links with Chelsea and Manchester United.
According to a report by Rudy Galetti on TEAMtalk, Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in Roberto De Zerbi. The 44-year-old recently revealed his desire to manage in the Premier League again after leaving Brighton & Hove Albion. However, he dreams of taking up the AC Milan and Barcelona jobs.
Roberto De Zerbi is one of the best young managers in the world. A native of Brescia, he graduated from the AC Milan youth division and is a fan of the Rossoneri. However, the Italian was a journeyman during his playing days, failing to find a stable foothold anywhere. He entered the coaching sphere in 2013 and has seen his stock skyrocket in the decade since.
De Zerbi’s star soared during his spell with Sassuolo after he installed an eye-catching brand of football at the Mapei Stadium. The 44-year-old also experienced success at Shakhtar Donetsk before joining Brighton & Hove Albion in September 2022. He hardly took time to settle down at the Amex Stadium, guiding the Seagulls to a sixth-place finish last season.
However, Brighton’s fortunes have plundered this term, as they have finished outside the top half of the table. Meanwhile, differences over transfer strategy with Tony Bloom have spelt the end of De Zerbi’s stint with Brighton. The Italian tactician has become a hot property in the managerial market, with Chelsea and Manchester United interested in him.
Chelsea’s interest in Roberto De Zerbi stems from the uncertainties surrounding Mauricio Pochettino. While the Argentine tactician guided the West London club to a respectable sixth-place finish in the Premier League, he is unsettled at Stamford Bridge. On the other hand, Manchester United might part ways with Erik ten Hag after a disastrous 2023/24 campaign.
So, the 44-year-old is a viable target for Chelsea and Manchester United. However, the outgoing Brighton & Hove Albion manager dreams of taking charge of AC Milan and Barcelona. While De Zerbi is a boyhood AC Milan fan, he is eager to manage Barcelona, with the club’s ethos suiting his playing style.
Both AC Milan and Barcelona might have managerial vacancies, with the two clubs showing interest in De Zerbi. However, it will be interesting to see if Chelsea and Manchester United can turn his head, considering he has spoken about the Italian tactician’s desire to manage in the Premier League again.
