The main reason for Roberto De Zerbi‘s shock departure from Brighton has been revealed.
In an unexpected announcement on Saturday, the Italian agreed that he would leave the Seagulls by mutual consent after their season finale at home to Manchester United.
De Zerbi’s contract was not due to expire until 2026 but the 44-year-old is now searching for his next opportunity and is highly rated across Europe following the success of his two seasons in the Premier League.
It was in March, when De Zerbi was being linked with the vacancies at Bayern and Liverpool, that he asked Brighton’s owner-chairman Tony Bloom for end-of-season talks to make sure their ambitions were in alignment.
And it turns out that those talks were not fruitful. De Zerbi’s shock departure is understood to boil down to one core issue with Bloom, with their differing approaches to how the club should operate in the transfer market becoming an irreconcilable matter.
Bloom is unwilling to budge on his principles that have seen Brighton become one of the savviest clubs in the market, while De Zerbi has his view on how the club should progress.
Roberto De Zerbi will leave Brighton at the end of the season, the club have confirmed
The reason for De Zerbi’s exit is down to one main issue with the chairman Tony Bloom (centre)
Mail Sport understands that the Italian wanted to take more risks in the market with signings, but that didn’t align with the club’s approach, eventually becoming the crux of the mutual agreement to part ways.
How Brighton currently recruit players broadly falls into two categories.
For players in their teens through to the age of 23, the club will identify players using Bloom’s global data bank and the club’s scouting network, which will see the players improved to the point of being sold on, The Athletic report.
Then, players in their thirties are in the other group and are usually players with winning experience and trophies on their resume. This group bring experience to the squad and help educate the youngsters.
De Zerbi wanted players that fell in between the two core groups who have medals on their CV but would cost more given they are nearing or are in their prime. This approach does not fit in line with Brighton’s model for recruitment.
It is believed that it became clear over a series of three meetings between De Zerbi and Bloom – and with chief executive Paul Barber and technical director David Weir – that their…