In the second interview with Sky Sport Italia, Ramon Planes confirmed talks between Barcelona and former Sassuolo coach Roberto De Zerbi, saying that the Italian is ‘similar to Pep Guardiola.’
Planes spoke to Sky Sport Italia on the day of Villarreal-Juventus in the Champions League, shedding light on some negotiations he held with Italian clubs during his time at the Nou Camp.
He admitted that Lautaro Martinez, Dusan Vlahovic and Manuel Locatelli came close to joining Barcelona over the last two years, but the La Liga giants had set their sights also on another familiar face in Serie A: Roberto De Zerbi.
‘Barcelona were close to signing Vlahovic, Locatelli and Lautaro’
The 42-year-old spent three seasons at Sassuolo before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk last summer. Although the Neroverdi didn’t qualify for Europe during his time at the Mapei Stadium, Sassuolo played one of the most exciting brands of football in Italy during the De Zerbi era. Planes confirmed that the Catalans held talks with the Italian tactician.
“His style is suitable for Barcelona, he is similar to Guardiola,” he said.
“It’s something that a coach must have to coach a team like Barcelona. We spoke to him in the past and I think that in the future, Barcelona will think about him again.”
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— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) February 22, 2022
Hello my Italian connazionale,
de Zerbi will go to Galatasaray when Mr Hamacioglu wins the elections on 11th June 2022.