Coppola on Premier League love, ‘stunning’ Brighton and pasta problem | OneFootball

Italy international Diego Coppola reveals when he ‘fell in love with the Premier League,’ what stunned him about Brighton and Hove Albion, and the biggest problem he’s encountered.

It has been quite the summer for the 21-year-old, who played for Italy in the Under-21 European Championship, got his first two senior caps, then completed the surprising transfer to Brighton.

Verona made the sale for circa €11m and he put pen to paper on a contract to June 2030, so is now hoping to make his Premier League debut this weekend.

epa11290875 Hellas Verona’s Diego Coppola scores the goal 1-0 during the Italian Serie A soccer match Hellas Verona vs Udinese Calcio at Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, 20 April 2024. EPA-EFE/EMANUELE PENNACCHIO

“I always saw it as the best league in the world, but more than a dream, it was a place I wanted to reach,” Coppola told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“When I found out Verona and Brighton were talking, I was so happy. My fondness goes back to when Manchester City won the title with my favourite player, Yaya Touré, plus Vincent Kompany and the coach was Manuel Pellegrini. That’s when I fell in love with the Premier League.”

The Italian revealed he would love to become like Yaya Touré, but has also been studying Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

Coppola ‘stunned’ by Brighton facilities

PARMA, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: Diego Coppola of Hellas Verona FC looks on during the Serie A match between Parma and Verona at Stadio Ennio Tardini on December 15, 2024 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

“I knew that Brighton was a club with a good project, but I was honestly stunned when I got here. The training centre is absurdly good, I thought the video they had sent me of it was some sort of AI projection, but it was all real.

“They focus on every aspect of your preparation, including yoga and pilates lessons, a huge gym, sauna, hot and cold tubs.”

Is there anything Coppola has struggled with since coming to England?

“Maybe the pasta, they really overcook it here…” he replied.

“Fortunately, I haven’t seen much rain in Brighton so far, it’s by the sea and doesn’t seem like the sad country that people depict England as in Italy. I always lived in Verona, where I had family and friends, but there are lots of players here my age that I can hang out with. I miss Italy, but not to the degree that I want to go straight back. I’m even getting used to driving on the wrong side of the road.”

DUNAJSKA STREDA, SLOVAKIA – JUNE 22: Diego Coppola of U21 Italy runs with the ball during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Quarter-Final match between Germany and Italy at DAC Arena on June 22, 2025 in Dunajska Streda, Slovakia. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)

He has also seen some big differences in the training regime, although in some ways it’s tougher in England, in others the Italian way is more draining.

“In pre-season, we haven’t done any runs without the ball, whereas in Serie A that’s pretty much all you do at the start. It’s a totally different schedule, we have two free days here, which you definitely didn’t get at Verona. It’s a different tempo, but I like it.

“Igor played for Fiorentina and speaks Italian, so he took me under his wing, explaining I have to be constantly on my toes, because you cannot get distracted for a moment here.”

When it comes to success in his debut season, Coppola is sure to be realistic.

“I have no expectations of going straight into the starting XI, as there are good defenders here, but I hope to slowly earn my place. I have to get used to their methods, for example the lack of a pre-match spell in a hotel, but these are small details. Fortunately, I always played with coaches who man-mark, so that’s something that can help me here.

“If I had to dream, I’d say my debut season should end with Premier League victory, but to be more realistic, getting into the Champions League places and personally playing as many games as possible,” he concluded.