Roberto De Zerbi is one of the most in-demand managers in club football right now. The Brighton boss has been linked to Liverpool, Barcelona, and almost every other big job open right now. No one knows what the future holds for De Zerbi, but his assistant manager, Andrea Maldera, may have just given us a massive hint about where De Zerbi will be next season.
Speaking to Radio Goal on Kiss Kiss Napoli this week, De Zerbi’s right-hand man, Maldera, revealed that his boss might be interested in taking the Napoli job someday.
Maldera talked about De Zerbi’s attachment to Napoli
“De Zerbi at Napoli? He is in love with Italy. It is his country, and Napoli is among his favorite teams. We’re fine at Brighton. We have another two years on our contract, then if a proposal came from Italy, and also from Naples, Roberto would take it into consideration. I don’t know, but why say no to a place like Naples?” the current Brighton assistant coach said.
Maldera was clear to say that if a proposal came after De Zerbi’s contract at Brighton expires in two years, the Italian would be interested in returning to his homeland, but with the Napoli job open right now, we have to think Napoli might be on De Zerbi’s mind at the moment as well.
Napoli are currently being coached by interim manager Francesco Calzona, who is also managing the Slovakian national team at the same time. Calzona is the third head coach Napoli have hired this season after firing Rudi Garcia last November and Walter Mazzarri in February.
Both Garcia and Mazzarri were criticized for playing overly defensive football and abandoning the attacking principles that won Napoli the 2022-23 Serie A title under current Italy boss Luciano Spalletti.
As we’ve seen in the Premier League this season, De Zerbi’s tactics are even more attacking than Spalletti’s, so he would be a welcome sight for Napoli fans. It would also be a homecoming of sorts for the Brighton manager.
De Zerbi is Italian, but he also has a connection to Naples. He played for Napoli between 2006 and 2010, making 33 league appearances for the Serie A club. If Maldera’s comments are anything to go by, De Zerbi could be ready to make his return to Naples.
