Total Disaster at Chelsea as Thier top target De Zerbi has rejected the offer to become Chelsea manager this morning
In light of a discord with Roberto De Zerbi, Mauricio Pochettino, who recently parted ways with Brighton, orchestrated the acquisition of Ansu Fati last season.
Following a solitary season at Stamford Bridge, the former Chelsea gaffer bid adieu after orchestrating some notable transfers, including the £100 million acquisition of Moises Caicedo and the £53 million swoop for Romeo Lavia, both hailing from Southampton.
Among the potential deals that failed to materialize for Chelsea was the pursuit of Barcelona’s wing wizard, Ansu Fati. De Zerbi, however, engineered Fati’s move to Brighton, convinced of his Premier League caliber, thereby hinting at a variance in opinion with Pochettino, his potential successor.
According to The Athletic, Pochettino rebuffed Chelsea’s advances for the 21-year-old Spanish sensation, who opted for a stint at Brighton for the 2023-24 season, temporarily departing Camp Nou.
Fati’s arrival in Brighton caught the football fraternity off guard, given his stature in the game. De Zerbi, the architect behind the Spaniard’s signing for a season, lavished praise on the player, asserting, “I’m extremely thrilled, it’s a big player.”
He further emphasized the significance of nurturing young talent, underscoring the responsibility coaches bear in sculpting them into elite performers. However, Fati’s stint in England was short-lived, marred by form and fitness issues, yielding a modest return of four goals in thirty appearances across various competitions. He is poised for a return to Barcelona under the tutelage of Hansi Flick in the upcoming campaign.
Meanwhile, De Zerbi emerges as a frontrunner to assume the reins at Chelsea, potentially succeeding Pochettino. Alongside him, Thomas Frank of Brentford and the incumbent Leicester boss, Enzo Maresca, are also in contention for the coveted role.
