Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele surprised by hour-long Roberto De Zerbi call after surgery | OneFootball

Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Jason Steele received a surprising Facetime call from former coach Roberto De Zerbi after undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury several weeks ago. In an interview with TalkSport the Seagulls’ goalkeeper revealed he chatted with the current Olympique de Marseille manager for an hour following his operation in late January. “I came out from surgery seven weeks ago, his team were playing a day later, Marseille, and he FaceTimed me for an hour on the Friday night. That speaks volumes about him as a person, as a human being,” said the former Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers shot-stopper, who became Brighton’s number one under De Zerbi when the Albion qualified for the Europa League. “The day I came out of surgery, that evening I go back home in pain, etc and he FaceTimed me. My wife was sat next to me looking after me on the couch, and she’s like ‘I can’t believe that’s just happened, is that normal? I actually don’t think that is normal.”Steele featured in both matches in the 2023-2024 season between Brighton, and De Zerbi’s future club Olympique de Marseille when the Sussex-based club pipped Les Phocéens to the top of the Europa League table. OM went on to reach the semi-finals that season, after Brighton were knocked out by Italian club Roma in the Round of 16.

Roberto De Zerbi still has ‘connection’ after time at Brighton

“I need to feel a connection with the place that I work, if not I have trouble expressing myself,” said De Zerbi at Marseille’s training ground to Get French Football News earlier this season. “I need to feel a connection it’s something that I had at Brighton. It was really strong with the players, and we had a great relationship with the supporters. It’s never easy to leave,” said De Zerbi with a palpable sense of emotion. The Italian coach left the Premier League side this summer following a disagreement with the club’s hierarchy over the future of the Seagulls and their plans for the upcoming season. Despite being touted for a move to fellow Premier League side’s Manchester United and Chelsea, De Zerbi opted to join Marseille.GFFN | George Boxall