Daniele De Rossi calls Roberto De Zerbi ‘a genius’ and reveals their daughters meet at Roma clubs in London to watch the Giallorossi matches.
Roma and Brighton have been paired in the Europa League Round of 16. It will be an Italian derby between De Rossi and De Zerbi, who are also close friends.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, on the eve of a Serie A match against Torino, De Rossi discussed his relationship with the Brighton tactician.
“I didn’t want Brighton [in the draw]. It will be a difficult game to prepare. They have hurt many top sides in England,” said DDR as quoted by TMW.
“I respect De Zerbi, he was like an open book to me. He helped me, made his books and data available for me and advised me. Our daughters are friends. They meet at Roma Clubs in London to watch matches.
“I imagine his daughter won’t have a Roma scarf when we meet,” De Rossi added smiling.
“This thing has united us even more. I think he [De Zerbi] is a genius. Like him or not, he’s brought something new; whoever does it is a genius coach. You can’t copy a genius, but I think he has changed something, so many want to imitate him.”
De Rossi and De Zerbi once travelled to England to have dinner with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. It happened only a few weeks before De Zerbi’s appointment as Brighton coach in 2022.
De Rossi was appointed to replace José Mourinho at the Stadio Olimpico this past January and has won five matches at the Stadio Olimpico, drawing and losing once.
His contract with the Giallorossi runs out in June.