Roberto De Zerbi, the Brighton boss, has been associated with managerial positions at Liverpool, Barcelona, and most recently Bayern Munich.
However, he has rejected any speculation about leaving the Amex stadium by stating, “I have a strong affection for my players, this city, and my club.” De Zerbi successfully guided Brighton through their first UEFA Europa League journey this season, with his team currently positioned 13th in the Premier League standings.
De Zerbi’s name was also associated with the Liverpool position, but Arne Slot was ultimately chosen as the frontrunner for the job. There were also rumors of Barcelona’s interest in De Zerbi.
However, in an interview with Sky Sports, De Zerbi expressed his desire to remain in Brighton and continue building on his successful tenure. This season, the club participated in the UEFA Europa League for the first time, which further motivated De Zerbi to stay.
“I will have a conversation with Tony Bloom, the owner of Brighton,” he stated. “I believe I would like to stay in Brighton because I have a deep affection for my players, this city, my club, and the fans.
“I mentioned during a meeting with the fans that if I am content, no other club can tempt me to leave. I want to maintain my passion always.”
De Zerbi received widespread praise for seamlessly taking over from the previous manager, Graham Potter, who moved to Chelsea. Brighton’s exciting and high-tempo style of play under De Zerbi’s guidance garnered much admiration throughout the 2022-23 season, resulting in a commendable sixth-place finish.