Player desired by De Zerbi ‘dreams’ of joining Brighton – Seagulls made ‘several contacts’ with club for signing

Last December, Alfredo Pedullà stated Brighton & Hove Albion have asked for information about Taranto’s Matias Antonini.

The defender joined the Serie C side last summer and the Seagulls have been keeping tabs on him ever since Roberto De Zerbi arrived at The Amex.

That’s according to SerieB News, who now state the manager wants to have the 25-year-old at Brighton.

Earlier this month, he signed a new deal until 2025. Despite this, Antonini intends to leave the Italian club. He ‘dreams of becoming a pillar of one of the best English clubs on the rise’.

The centre-back’s spell at Taranto has allowed him to become aware of his techincal abilities and he now ‘dreams big’. Along with Brighton, Ternana, Empoli and Salernitana are also chasing him.

Brighton’s interest in the player ‘matured’ after De Zerbi joined them as the coach is a ‘great admirer’ of Antonini. It’s claimed there would have been ‘several contacts’ between the two clubs for his transfer in the summer.

SerieB News end their report by stating: ‘After the end of this season, everything will be clearer and Antonini will be able to make the most important decision of his career’.

With Antonini keen to join Brighton, they could seal the deal if an agreement is found with the lower division Italian club.