This morning, Roberto De Zerbi woke up with two certainties. The first is that he is now a free coach, and the second is that he will probably be smoking more as he joked about it after his last match with Brighton. However, these certainties may not last long as De Zerbi’s eyes are now on Milan.
When Milan had previously shown interest in him, De Zerbi was under contract with Brighton until 2026, making it challenging to secure his release due to a 15 million clause. But things changed drastically in the last 48 hours as both De Zerbi and Brighton announced their separation, paving the way for potential new opportunities for him.
With Milan on the lookout for Pioli’s successor, De Zerbi’s profile seems to align with what the club is searching for in a new coach. Young, experienced internationally and in Serie A, and with a playing style that resonates with Milan’s ethos, De Zerbi could be a strong contender for the position. However, it remains to be seen if his vision for the project aligns with the club’s collaborative decision-making process. As the search for the new manager continues, Paulo Fonseca remains a top candidate, although Fonseca’s recent results with Lille may have impacted his candidacy. While a decision looms, one thing remains clear – Stefano Pioli will lead Milan for one final time this weekend against Salernitana at San Siro before his potential departure is officially confirmed.
