Prior to the Turin derby between Juventus and Torino at the weekend, Italian newspaper La Stampa today features a long interview with Bianconeri midfielder Manuel Locatelli.
A random statistic about the 25-year-old was brought up, as he’s played 99 games under Massimiliano Allegri at the Old Lady, and 99 under Roberto De Zerbi at Sassuolo.
That’s why La Stampa was interested in his work with those managers, and asked about the similarities between the Juventus manager and the current Brighton & Hove Albion boss.
“They are opposites, but unique. I’m very close to De Zerbi because he changed my life: I was a kid who had to go through that kind of experience at Sassuolo and take the slaps to return to a big team,” said Locatelli.
“Then I arrived at Juve and I found a person with a mentality that impresses you. I like to listen to people who are winners and he is one: people can say what they want, but Allegri has always won.”
La Stampa then asked Locatelli if De Zerbi tried to bring him to Brighton this summer, and it seemed like the player tried to dodge that question a little.
“We talk often, but my will is to be here for a long time and Roberto knows that. In the future we will meet again: I hope so and I know he hopes so too.”
Just last month, the Italian media had been speaking of De Zerbi’s interest in signing Locatelli for Brighton, with Tuttosport featuring a report on it.
That may mean that following a summer attempt, the manager is still keen on working with the midfielder again. And judging by the player’s quotes, a reunion with the coach will continue to be on the cards in the coming windows.
