Barcelona discussed Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto de Zerbi with his agents this week, but only in a ‘marginal manner’.
That’s according to journalist Gianluigi Longari, who believes the Italian would be the ideal replacement for Xavi in the summer.
The current Barcelona coach announced earlier this month that he intends to leave Camp Nou at the end of the season in a move that came as a surprise to many.
The race to find his replacement is now on and a long list of potential targets has been developing, with Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi very much on that list.
He’s earned himself a growing group of admirers following his work with Brighton since arriving in September 2022 and that has reportedly not gone unnoticed in Catalunya.
A report earlier this week indicated he may even be interested in the switch and was looking to ‘gain ground’ on potential competitors via his close network, namely his agents.
They also represent Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo and were spotted flying into Barcelona this week for talks with the club over him, sparking speculation that De Zerbi may also be discussed.
Longari insists that the Brighton manager was a part of the talks, but only on a cursory basis at this moment in time.
“A closing on De Zerbi, the coach that I personally would choose both if I were at Liverpool and Barça,” he said.
“The Italian would respect the DNA of both clubs with his ideas of play and would have the possibility of exporting his beliefs also in a club that starts with the aim of winning all the events it takes part in.
“The meeting at the Blaugrana headquarters a few days ago which saw its representatives as protagonists had a different purpose: to talk about Araujo and his possible renewal with the Catalans.
“The De Zerbi topic was addressed in a momentarily marginal manner, even if there is no closure at all to the prospect that the fairy tale that started in Brescia could one day find a chapter on the Ramblas too. Who knows…”
