Roberto De Zerbi confirms future plans amid Manchester United interest

Manchester United-linked manager Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed his future plans following his exit from Brighton & Hove Albion.

De Zerbi, 44, faced against United in his final game as Brighton boss on Sunday as the Reds came out 2-0 victors on the final day of the Premier League season.

The confirmation of his exit was announced before the match in a surprising fashion. The Italian manager has been brilliant for the Seagulls.

Of course, there is a level of uncertainty surrounding Erik ten Hag’s job at Old Trafford with INEOS taking control of footballing operations.

Several managers have been linked to the role should the Dutchman depart. De Zerbi has been one of those, as have managers like Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.

While his exit makes it seem that De Zerbi has an offer ready to be accepted, the 44-year-old has instead explained that there is no club for him at the moment and that his exit was due to not being able to find an agreement with the Brighton ownership.

Interestingly, the Italian manager stated that he hopes to return to the Premier League to manage but has not placed a time frame on his time out of the hot seat.

“I spent the last 24-48 hours in a strong and tough way. We didn’t find the right agreement to go forward, to stay,” he said.

“There isn’t any club. No one offered [me a job]. I hope to work in the Premier League again. I don’t know where or when.

“I have to be thankful to Tony Bloom and Paul Barber. Tony is a great owner, and he knows what’s best for Brighton. His recruitment is top and the future of Brighton will be great while Tony is owner.

“It won’t be easy for me without football. I will smoke more cigarettes and watch 100 games per week!”

De Zerbi might not be waiting long if United do look to move on Ten Hag. That decision is expected to come after the FA Cup final next weekend. Other clubs will also likely be sniffing around the young manager.