Barcelona have identified Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi as their leading candidate to become head coach at the Catalan giants, according to a new report.
De Zerbi is under contract with the Seagulls until 2026, but his impressive start to managerial life on the English south coast has attracted interest from other clubs across Europe.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are seeking a new manager to replace Xavi, who will leave the hot seat in the summer after three years in charge.
Diario Sport claims that Barca President Joan Laporta has requested a profile on 44-year-old De Zerbi as part of the plan to replace Xavi.
It is thought Laporta likes how De Zerbi deals with his players, as well as his personal demeanour, and the manager's agents have recently been in the city.
Laporta is working with Director of Football Deco on the managerial hiring process, as Barcelona look to get going on the process so that the new boss can have a full pre-season with the squad.
De Zerbi steered Brighton to their first European place finish last season, and look set to replicate that this term.
Despite his contract until 2026, the Seagulls are making contingency plans in case their manager does leave in the summer, with Liverpool and Manchester United also among the admirers of the Italian's style.
Brighton’s recruitment and talent identification plans are the envy of European football, meaning the coach will usually have only limited influence over this area.
That programme has been so successful that the club are unlikely ever to change it to satisfy the coach of the day.
Brighton travel to Sheffield United for their next Premier League game on Sunday afternoon, six days before hosting Everton at the AmEx.
hiwdlnpsuz
0
We should forget about Robert De Zerbi,he doesn't have barca DNA,Hanis Flick has the DNA of playing style
AryanSamad2001
1
If De zerbi take over barca job Barca would remain the same as they couldn’t change their play style under him which remains as Barca DNA.Which isn’t good enough for modern day football we Will see the same failure again and again in UCL and so on.We need a complete change of mentality playstyle which could only be provided by Hansi flick. As he pursued players to be strong and agile in the ground who would put all his energy on during the 90 min.So my suggestion is that Hansi flick is by far the best Choice for Barcelona right now.
OluMcCoyIroko
0
a good coach no doubt, but does he have the experience to turn things around at Barca? Well only time will tell.
Bsangriang
0
he will be worst than xavi
bwalyaalfred024
0
He’s not the right coach for Barca. We can’t complain that Xavi is trying to maintain a top 4 spot when Barca are trying to get someone who is placed 9th he’s not doing good with his team and he’s not the right fit for Barcelona. We need someone like flick. His intensity because that’s what we lack. And flick is the person to win us trophies when de zabri him self said he wasn’t interested in winning a trophy
EPL is competitive N Brighton ain't no team to make top 4 elo when he joins a team like Barca that wins for prestige he's gotta forget bout all that bullshit and win stuff. believe he's the right cheap option looking at barca's financial struggles cos Flick won't come cheap
Boybdkmpz
3
Bring in Hansi flick rather than zerbi
Tatbclnstu
0
De Zerbi is a good I'd really love to see him coach Barca next season
He’s not the right coach for Barca. We can’t complain that Xavi is trying to maintain a top 4 spot when Barca are trying to get someone who is placed 9th he’s not doing good with his team and he’s not the right fit for Barcelona. We need someone like flick. His intensity because that’s what we lack. And flick is the person to win us trophies when de zabri him self said he wasn’t interested in winning a trophy
Andy220
3
This club didn't learn from Setien who was good at mid team but horrible at Barcelona. De Zerbi who once said he isn't interested in winning trophy is who you want to get over a Sextuple coach in Hansi Flick who's free and you won't need to pay 10-20m to get like De Zerbi, this club 🤦
Ziwbcdeksu
4
I really don't know what deco and laporta are smoking real Madrid are taking mbappe and alphonso Davies with enrick you are here trying to sell araujo, de Jong, kounde, etc and still employing an average coach
Duueilstuy
3
that man is not doing well in epl, if fan are criticizing xavi that is maintaining top4 why hiring someone that's not close top5 on the table. for we should hir someone who have win titles
zancdimstu
0
Barca should not make that mistake,they can contact Chelsea to explain what happened to potter G when they hired him
olayinkaoyeb
1
this is pure joke, how do you hire someone without a proper CV, at least Hansi Flick won 6 Titles in his first season. please appoint someone with experience, we're done with average coaches
What was pep CV when he took barca. What was arteta CV, what of Zidane or erique...?
bwalyaalfred024
1
De Zerbi is a good I'd really love to see him coach Barca next season
bwalyaalfred024
2
this is pure joke, how do you hire someone without a proper CV, at least Hansi Flick won 6 Titles in his first season. please appoint someone with experience, we're done with average coaches
did either Pep or Xavi have a quality CV when being signed nha chikala
munshtembo
3
this is pure joke, how do you hire someone without a proper CV, at least Hansi Flick won 6 Titles in his first season. please appoint someone with experience, we're done with average coaches
rahablnotz
1
why lapota , can't identify right from wrong, choose a Dr zebi over a quality experience coach God help us
helkath
3
They should take their time please. We wouldn't want any further complain from the fan base about how clueless their newly hired coach is. I suggest they give another legend a try; who knows that one might take them to 10th position lol
funaikopu
1
No we need flick