Roberto De Zerbi insists he quit Brighton over 'unfair things' and makes Mason Greenwood reveal
Roberto De Zerbi left Brighton at the end of last season after deciding a parting of ways was best with the Premier League club, before taking charge at Marseille and signing Mason Greenwood from Manchester United
Roberto De Zerbi has claimed he left Brighton because he clashed with owner Tony Bloom and he could not accept “unfair things”.
And the Italian revealed that controversial striker Mason Greenwood was the first player he called when he joined Marseille.
The Italian led Albion to sixth place in the Premier League and into Europe for the first time in his first season. But De Zerbi, 45, was unhappy about the lack of investment in his squad and openly criticised Bloom after the 4-0 at Roma in March by stating: “This is a lesson to learn for the president to improve the team.”
From being linked with top clubs around Europe, the former Sassuolo boss joined the French club who finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season. But asked why he left Brighton, De Zerbi told L’Equipe: “We had different ideas from the owner. I love football, I love to work but I also like freedom. It no longer suited me.
READ MORE: Alan Shearer makes huge demand of Alexander Isak as he issues Newcastle transfer callREAD MORE: Bruno Fernandes had "concrete offers" to leave - but Man Utd actions convinced him to stay"I didn’t want to accept unfair things. Then I chose to come to Marseille because I had the chance to stay in England but I made the choice after careful consideration. And I think it’s the ideal atmosphere for me.
“Being free does not mean being in charge. It means rather that I am stimulated, that I feel strong motivation, that I feel adrenaline in my job.”
The £26.6m signing of former Manchester United forward Greenwood caused fan protests with the Marseille mayor Benoit Payan branding Greenwood 'a disgrace'. Greenwood had charges for rape and assault dropped last year and he has denied any wrongdoing.
Before the signing, De Zerbi claimed he would “protect” Greenwood if he joined Marseille. But the Italian claimed: “I didn’t defend him. I said that when a player becomes my player, I am the first to put him against the wall if he is wrong. But the outside world, I will always defend him as I would my son.
"The personal question does not enter into my reasoning. I know what (president) Pablo (Longoria) did before, all the human information he collected on Greenwood. The club took all precautions before making the decision.”
De Zerbi added: “Greenwood was the first player I called. I spoke with his father, who must be the same age as me. I warned him about the demands of this club, telling him: ‘OM (Marseille) is OM’.
“He replied: ‘I remember the historic OM, which played European Cup finals."
With their Ligue 1 season opener at Brest on Saturday, Marseille have completed the £25.7m deal for Lille striker Elye Wahi after trying to sign Eddie Nkietah from Arsenal.
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