Scott Minto, during an interview on talkSPORT’s Premier League All Access podcast, expressed the opinion that Roberto De Zerbi would be an ideal replacement for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. According to Minto, the 52-year-old Italian manager would fit well with the Citizens in terms of both playing style and how he interacts with the board.
Minto acknowledged Real Madrid’s interest in De Zerbi but emphasized that the level of control Florentino Perez holds is unpredictable. Despite this interest, Minto believed that De Zerbi would be a good fit for Manchester City. He suggested that City would grant De Zerbi a similar level of control to what Pep Guardiola currently enjoys, and he felt the footballing style wouldn’t be vastly different from Guardiola’s.
Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire in July 2025, and both The Guardian and ESPN reported his intention to leave the club at that time after a nine-year tenure. Therefore, Manchester City should start considering a replacement, and Minto suggested that De Zerbi is a suitable candidate.
Since taking over from Graham Potter in September 2022, De Zerbi has shown his managerial prowess by leading Brighton to the UEFA Europa League after a successful sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season. Under De Zerbi’s guidance, Brighton has won 24 out of 47 games, drawn seven, and lost 16, scoring a total of 106 goals. The Brescia-born strategist is known for implementing an advanced, possession-based brand of football, aligning with Manchester City’s style under Guardiola.
