27 May 2024 , 07:15
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Mauricio Pochettino's disagreement with Roberto De Zerbi saw the outgoing Brighton boss snap up Ansu Fati last year.
The ex-Chelsea manager left Stamford Bridge after one season where he made a slew of big-money signings including the £100million deal for Moises Caicedo as well as forking out £53million to buy Romeo Lavia from Southampton.
Among the potential deals that didn't occur at Chelsea was that of Barcelona winger Ansu Fati. Pochettino clearly had a difference of opinion with the man who may well replace him as De Zerbi ended up bringing him to Brighton, deeming him a top-quality Premier League player.
According to The Athletic, the Blues were offered the chance to sign the Spaniard but Pochettino rejected the opportunity to buy the 21-year-old, who instead temporarily left the Camp Nou to spend the 2023/24 campaign with Brighton.
Considering the high profile of Fati, his arrival in Brighton was certainly a shock to the football world as the Italian boss spoke glowingly about the Spain international after securing his services for a season.
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"I’m very pleased, it’s a big player," De Zerbi said of Fati. "We lost Enciso and we needed one big player. We are lucky because we have a lot of young players, potential top players and it will be one responsibility more.
"If you work with this talent, you have much responsibility because it’s our football heritage and we can’t make mistakes with these players because football needs this talent and you have to manage it in different ways."
Roberto De Zerbi left Brighton at the end of this current season (Getty Images)The 44-year-old added: "I’ve always thought like this. Especially for the big, big talent, I feel the responsibility to help this talent to become great players. Sometimes the coaches think only of the result, only of their career but football needs to have great players. It’s a big responsibility and I feel it. I think our style is very close with his characteristics, with his qualities."
It didn't work out in England though, with Fait managing just four goals in 30 appearances in all competitions after struggling with injury and form. He is now expected to return to a Barcelona side managed by Hansi Flick next season.
De Zerbi, meanwhile, could end up inheriting Pochettino's Chelsea squad with the Italian among the favourites to be appointed the Blues' new boss. Current Leicester manager Enzo Maresca and Brentford's Thomas Frank are also under consideration.
With Pochettino and De Zerbi both on the hunt for a new job this summer, their attention will likely also be on the managerial situation of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United despite the Dutchman leading his side to FA Cup glory in their 2-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday (May 25). Ten Hag is reportedly set to be sacked but Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to take some more time before making a final decision.
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