March 7th 2024.
Brighton's manager, Roberto De Zerbi, has been the subject of much speculation recently, with top Premier League clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool all rumored to be interested in his services. However, De Zerbi has made it clear that he is content in his current position at Brighton and is not looking to leave.
The 44-year-old has established himself as one of the best young managers in the world, leading Brighton to their first-ever European qualification with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season. Despite taking over the team just a year ago, De Zerbi has received praise for his attractive style of play and ability to achieve success on a modest budget compared to other top clubs.
The Italian has also had to deal with the departure of key players like Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, and Robert Sanchez, who left for a combined fee of £160 million. It's no surprise that his success at Brighton has caught the attention of high-profile English clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
However, ahead of Brighton's Europa League match against Roma, De Zerbi was quick to dismiss any talk of a possible return to his home country of Italy. He stated that while he does think about the possibility, he is currently focused on what makes him happy, which is managing Brighton and competing at the highest level.
De Zerbi did mention that he plans to return to Italy in the future, but he also stated that there were certain aspects of Italian football that he did not like, which is why he decided to try something different by taking on the challenge at Shakhtar Donetsk in 2021.
Brighton's CEO, Paul Barber, is aware of the interest in De Zerbi and understands that the club would not be able to stop him from leaving if he were to express a desire to do so. However, Barber is confident that the club can convince their manager to stay for the foreseeable future. He believes that De Zerbi loves the club, the people, and the infrastructure at Brighton and that the work he is doing is not only beneficial for the club but also for his own growth and development.
Barber also acknowledged that as Brighton continues to improve and attract attention, they become more vulnerable to losing their top talents. However, the club has measures in place to secure their contracts and is confident in their ability to retain their key personnel.
De Zerbi signed a four-year contract with Brighton when he took over as manager in 2022, and it's understood that he has a £12 million release clause in his contract. So, while other clubs may be interested in his services, it won't be easy for them to poach him due to his current contract and Brighton's determination to keep him.
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