Ex-De Zerbi teammate says Brighton coach rejected Inter because he’s a Milan fan | OneFootball

Former Napoli striker German Denis reveals Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi didn’t even sit down to negotiate with Inter last season because he is ‘a great Milan fan.’

Ex-Serie A star Denis claims his former teammate De Zerbi was contacted by Inter last season when Simone Inzaghi was on the brink of being sacked.

The Italian tactician won the Coppa Italia and reached a Champions League Final in 2022-23, but the Nerazzurri lost 12 league games last season and finished third behind Lazio and Napoli.

Denis was a teammate of De Zerbi at Napoli in the first part of the 2009-10 campaign and the ex-Argentinean forward has now revealed that RDZ refused to open talks with the Nerazzurri last season.

De Zerbi rejected Inter because he’s a Milan fan

“When Inzaghi was on the brink last season, Inter contacted De Zerbi, but I know for a fact that he said no to the Nerazzurri because he is a great Milan fan,” Denis told Sportitalia as quoted by FcInter1908.

This season has been very different for Inzaghi. His Inter side won the Serie A title with five games to spare, becoming Scudetto winners for the 20th time.

De Zerbi is among the options for the Milan job in 2024-25, but he has a hefty release clause in his Brighton contract. Therefore, Sergio Conceiçao and Paulo Fonseca are currently the leading candidates to replace Stefano Pioli, according to multiple Italian sources.