Roberto De Zerbi took charge of his final Brighton game yesterday against Manchester United, and now he will spend a few days by the phone hoping for a call from his beloved AC Milan.
According to this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), De Zerbi is now free to pick his own future and after a period of rest he will be ready to jump into his next challenge, one that he hopes could see him return to the club where it all started.
What has changed
When Milan tested the waters initially, De Zerbi was a coach under contract until 2026 and, above all, protected by a release clause of €15m. Things have changed in the last 48 hours, given the English club and the Brescia manager announced their divorce.
De Zerbi himself underlined that there is no agreement in place with another club and that is not the reason for his departure. Instead, the ex-Sassuolo boss is waiting for a call, the right project, and then he will evaluate.
It is in this context that Milan’s name must pop up, because De Zerbi has never hidden his attachment to the club and has admitted they have a very special place in his heart.
“It’s not a normal club, I grew up with the Rossoneri. I will be grateful to Milan for the rest of my life,” De Zerbi said on more than one occasion.
A decision to make
The process opened by the Rossoneri to identify Pioli’s successor can offer De Zerbi an immediate assist for the future. Even more so because his profile matches in many aspects with the identikit of the new coach outlined by the Milan management.
De Zerbi is young, he has experience at an international level, he knows Serie A very well and has the style of play that the manageement like. Last but not least, his name ignites the enthusiasm of the fans who had opposed Julen Lopetegui’s arrival.
The issue, if anything, is understanding whether his point of view on the project can fit in with the plans of Milan. RedBird Capital have opted for a collegial management where all choices must be shared between Giorgio Furlani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Geoffrey Moncada and Gerry Cardinale.
Would De Zerbi accept that, given that he left Brighton over differences regarding the plans for the future? It remains to be seen.
I think this guy really wants to be a part of the Milan folklore; he shows a real passion for Milan, like that of a fan not just management, there is no doubt him and Zlatan would be simpatico.
He will have the backing of the fans and the younger players will be given a real chance.
In many ways it’s a non brainer, given that 75% of our management currently don’t have the brains it is an ideal scenario.
So what are they waiting for. Dragging their heels again as if RDZ will remain available forever. At this stage anyone would do except Nonseca…
For all you know, we are the reason he left and no one is “waiting for” anything. Or someone else is the reason he left and it’s not even a conversation.
Given he technically wasn’t fired, he will have just agreed to a much smaller severance package. He’s probably done that for a reason, and that reason isn’t so he can “spend a few days by the phone hoping for a call from his beloved AC Milan”
Close the deal on this guy today and let’s get ready for next season…
If we want a long-term and sustainable project, something Gerry and the Redbirds like to emphasize, we need a long-term coach who has capacity to grow with the team.
Motta or De Zerbi are the only ones in my opinion able to give us that.
Yes, RDZ maybe not winning scudetto because worst defense but he is good choice if want to stay at top 5 serie A for CL , develop young player like he do in sassoulo & brighton, working with team management. RDZ ,Motta , Vicenzo italiano are long term coach that Redbird will like until their stadium ready in 2028 or 2029
Young, exciting, innovative, quite experienced (given his age), plays 4231, Italian, and now he’s supposedly to be free. What else do we need?
He can even grow his squad’s value significantly. Able to keep his style while many key players had to be sold for economic accomplishment. Something that we should get used to on this current management.
I will give you one name: Gasperini. More experience and ideal to work with youngster. No doubt about it. UCL spot and europa league final this season. Kessie, romero, pasalic, CdK, miranchuk, hojlund, caldara, josip illicic example name that explode under his guidance. Milan should consider his name
The man-man play that Gasperini plays will take a lot of time to implement in a new team.
Just go for De Zerbi!
Gasp is tailor made for Atalanta. His next step will be La Nazionale. Not another club.