The fall was so brutal that the context had become unbreathable for Roberto De Zerbi. A few days after the humiliation suffered by OM against Paris Saint-Germain (5-0), the Marseille club formalized in the middle of the night the dismissal of its coach, symbol of a project that had already been cracked for several weeks. Between disappointing results, early European elimination, internal tensions and growing distrust from the stands, the break seemed inevitable. The hostile banners displayed at the Vélodrome against the management, targeting in particular Pablo Longoria and Frank McCourt, have finally illustrated a climate that has become toxic. The scheduled departure of Giovanni Rossi then the shattering one of Medhi Benatia marked the end of a cycle designed to last, but carried away by the sporting and political spiral which shook the Commanderie.
Barely free, the Italian technician has nevertheless seen his popularity rise on the coaching market. The first sirens came from England, where its profile still seduces for its daring football. Tottenham Hotspur made inquiries, but ultimately chose caution by entrusting an interim role to Igor Tudor. Other giants remain attentive, with Manchester United continuing to follow him for several months, while Manchester City could position themselves in the event of the departure of Pep Guardiola. Even Liverpool are monitoring the situation as Arne Slot’s future remains uncertain. So many clues which confirm that, despite his failure in Marseille, Roberto De Zerbi remains perceived across the Channel as a technician capable of driving a modern project.
Serie A extends its arms to him
But the most surprising path today leads to Serie A. According to La RepubblicaFiorentina would seriously think about its profile to embody a new cycle. The announced arrival of Fabio Paratici in the organization chart could accelerate this scenario. Indeed, the Italian leader would make De Zerbi his priority to relaunch the Florentine project in the medium term. The idea would be to build a tactically identifiable team, capable of imposing a clear style, precisely the trademark of the Lombard technician. For the moment, these are only exploratory discussions, conditioned in particular on the maintenance of the club, but they reflect the real interest that the former Marseille coach continues to arouse in Italy. As a reminder, the Viola sacked Stefano Pioli mid-season, before handing the reins to Paolo Vanoli, with equally relative success.
However, the Italian daily also mentions another track in Serie A, that of Napoli, where the future of Antonio Conte remains unclear. The Neapolitan leaders would study several profiles, including that of De Zerbi, but also that of Vincenzo Italiano, considered more tactically balanced. At the same time, the Premier League has not said its last word, since Chelsea would be one of the clubs having already made inquiries in recent months before setting their sights on Liam Rosenior. This paradox sums up a strange situation. Contested for his recent results, but always admired for his ideas, Roberto De Zerbi remains a sought-after value on the market. Having barely left Marseille, the Italian already saw several unexpected doors opening before him. Proof that, in modern football, tactical reputation can sometimes weigh more heavily than recent results.
