AC Milan have managed to get themselves into some difficulty with their own supporters. Stefano Pioli is expected to be shown the door at the end of the season and the Rossoneri have been working on his replacement.
That saw them contact Julen Lopetegui, speak with the manager, and come close to offering him the job. However, their fans think otherwise and started a campaign against him, including managing to get #Nopetegui trending on social media.
They want a bigger name, and that could lead them to Brighton & Hove Albion and Roberto De Zerbi. He’s not the only option, but others are slipping away.
Antonio Conte looks close to Napoli, and Thiago Motta, currently at Bologna, is thought to be keen on Juventus.
Previously, paying De Zerbi’s clause to Brighton (put at €13m this time), was out of the question for Milan, however, Calciomercato say it’s not now thought to be ‘an unsurmountable obstacle’.
The drama around supporters lashing out has pushed Milan into a corner, and it’s stated they could see the Brighton manager as an escape route. Calciomercato accept De Zerbi would have to be given widespread powers at the club, more than they usually do, and that doesn’t appear to be a killer either.
De Zerbi’s view on all of this isn’t even guessed at. AC Milan are obviously a huge side and there’s bound to be a temptation, but he’s been linked to bigger jobs recently.
A relatively difficult time at Brighton in the second half of this season hasn’t completely killed the Italian attraction to De Zerbi, and it may even make him easier to get.
