Exclusive: Barcelona's stance on Italian coaches and De Zerbi clause

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ByMatteo Moretto

Feb 11, 2024 15:40

Brighton's Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi takes his seat ahead of kick-off in the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on January 22, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Antonio Conte, Thiago Motta and Roberto De Zerbi have been linked with the Barcelona job, but transfer expert Matteo Moretto feels Xavi’s replacement in 2024-25 won’t be an Italian coach.

Barcelona have already begun talks to replace Xavi next season, given that the ex-Spain international has recently confirmed he’ll leave the Catalans at the end of the current campaign.

Italian coaches Conte, Motta and De Zerbi have been linked with the job recently, but Football Italia transfer pundit Matteo Moretto has told Caught Offside that the La Liga giants are unlikely to hire a coach from the Peninsula in the summer.

Conte is currently without a club, while Motta’s contract with Bologna runs out this coming June.

Moretto feels Conte, a Serie A title coach with Juventus and Inter, will return to Italy, but Motta is also expected to remain in the country regardless of his future with Bologna.

The Rossoblu director, Claudio Fenucci, has recently said that talks over a new deal for the ex-Italy international will soon begin.

De Zerbi, on the other hand, has a release clause in his contract with Brighton, and although the Catalans could afford it on paper, they are not expected to invest circa €13m in the ex-Sassuolo and Foggia coach.