Roberto De Zerbi believes Jorginho and Giorgio Chiellini deserve the Ballon d’Or and insists that Manuel Locatelli is ‘ready’ to join Juventus ‘or any other top European club.’
The 42-year-old was appointed Shakhtar Donetsk coach in the summer after a three-year spell at Sassuolo.
He had coached Domenico Berardi, Giacomo Raspadori and Manuel Locatelli while at the Mapei Stadium with the trio that went on to win the Euros with Italy.
“I got excited as I was his father, but they are strong players and I just tried to convey the mentality of always training at 110 per cent, trying to be protagonists, and that’s what they did,” De Zerbi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“When Locatelli and Berardi entered the pitch against England, they did it with the right mentality. It made me laugh to hear people wonder whether Loca was humble enough or thought Raspadori was too short to play football.”
Locatelli is expected to leave Sassuolo in the summer with Arsenal and Juventus interested in securing his services.
However, the 23-year-old wants to play Champions League football and seems determined to snub a move to North London to join Juventus instead.
De Zerbi believes the Italy starlet is ready to move to the Allianz Stadium or any other top club in Europe.
“Absolutely, he is ready for Juventus or another big club in Europe. He embodies everything that a midfielder must be today: he is a complete midfielder, he is accurate with his build-up play, tactically smart and I never saw him lose a tackle in three years,” the Italian tactician said.
De Zerbi: "Shakhtar cruciale per la mia crescita. #Locatelli e Raspadori? Hanno smentito tutti" https://t.co/tZRIFYLuyO
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) July 23, 2021
Berardi is another player who has been linked with top clubs many times in his career, but why hasn’t he joined a top team yet?
“Because he’s put fun ahead of career and I understand him because I’m doing the same thing. I think he was never offered the right opportunity too, but it’s not true he has fear.
“He has personality and he proved that taking the penalty in the Euro Final. He lives following his values, I respect him, he wants to be himself.”
Chelsea and Italy playmaker Jorginho is a candidate to win the Ballon D’Or as he became champions of Europe both with the Blues and with the Azzurri and according to De Zerbi, he would deserve to win it.
“If you look at the trophies he’s won, he deserves it. He is such a smart midfielder. When I was at Sassuolo, I used to tell Maxime Lopez to watch him closely because he sees football one hour before the others.
“You won’t notice him many times, but he was one of Italy’s key players with Gigio Donnarumma, Leo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
“However, Messi remains Messi and, until he plays, will be among the candidates. Fabio Cannavaro won the Ballon d’Or in the past, so I don’t see why Chiellini should not win it for the spirit he had at the Euros.”