Roberto De Zerbi has admitted he is happy at Brighton & Hove Albion but is open to working for ‘a big, big team’ in the future amid links to Barcelona or Liverpool.
Barca are on the hunt for a replacement to head coach Xavi and De Zerbi has been linked with a move to Catalonia by the Catalan press, while 90min reported earlier this week the Italian is a serious contender to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
In an interview with Sky Sports, De Zerbi revealed his focus is on improving Brighton, but he is determined to compete for titles in his career.
“We feel we can write another part of Brighton’s history,” De Zerbi began.
“Everyone feels this responsibility and we are working very hard to make happy our fans and our people working in the club. We will try and show our best.
“When I hear that big teams are interested in me it is an honour. I am proud, but my focus is on my work day-by-day.
“About the future, I will speak with the owner [Tony Bloom] and with the club because I want to compete in the best way I can. I want to understand the plan, and then it is not a problem to work in a big, big team or another big team.
“I would like in my career to compete to win the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga, Champions League but there isn’t a time when you have to go and compete, or to wait some more time.
“Milan for me is not a normal club because as a player I was born in AC Milan. For my life I will always be grateful for Milan.
“I love my country, I love Italy, I love Italian football. For sure one of my targets is to go back and work in my country, but I don’t know when is the time.
“I am feeling very well in the Premier League and I have to say thanks to Brighton and for all of the coaches and people in [and supporting] the Premier League in the UK.
“But it is not a problem where you work, it is how you are working, not the place.”
De Zerbi took charge of Brighton in September 2022 after Graham Potter joined Chelsea. In his first season with the Seagulls, the Italian led the club to their highest ever league finish, ending the campaign sixth in the Premier League table and qualifying for Europe for the first time.
Brighton finished top of a Europa League group featuring Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens to book their spot in the last 16 of the competition, while they can move up to seventh in the Premier League standings with victory at Sheffield United on Sunday.
