Marseille president Pablo Longoria has revealed he was able to hire Roberto de Zerbi this summer after receiving a tip-off he was leaving Brighton and Hove Albion.
Le Figaro cover comments from the Marseille president today made in an interview with Corriere della Sera about the appointment of De Zerbi in the summer.
The Italian arrived at the French club earlier this year following his surprising departure from Brighton at the end of last season.
Few had seen him leaving the Seagulls following a very successful two years together, even if last season had proven to be more difficult than the first.
The 45-year-old earned himself plenty of admirers for the work he did with Brighton and found himself linked to the Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich jobs at various points.
Things are going well so far with them currently third in the table behind Monaco and Paris Saint Germain. Longoria is certainly pleased with the appointment and bragged once again about how he pulled it off.
“It was during the days when I was looking for a coach,” he said.
“A friend called me and whispered: ‘Next week, De Zerbi is leaving Brighton. Don’t say anything.’ I hung up and called Edo Crnjar, his agent, and I told him: ‘I know it’s impossible but I’m trying’.
“I convinced him with transparency, with passion and with the project. Roberto followed his heart, I think the enthusiasm of the city and the OM supporters, who have 49,000 season ticket holders, played a role.”
