Roberto De Zerbi is leaving Brighton after the Manchester United game (Picture: Getty)

Roberto De Zerbi says he is ‘very sad’ to be leaving Brighton but ‘proud’ of what the team achieved during his time at the club after it was confirmed he would leave following the final game of the season.

De Zerbi arrived at Brighton in September 2022, taking over from his popular predecessor Graham Potter, and led the Seagulls to their highest-ever Premier League finish last season.

Under De Zerbi, Brighton competed in the Europa League earlier in the season, reaching the knockout stages before a last-16 defeat to Serie A side Roma.

They are 10th in the Premier League after a poor second-half to the 2023-24 campaign and face Manchester United at the Amex Stadium on Sunday in their final game.
De Zerbi’s backroom staff, which includes Andrea Maldera, Ricard Segarra, Marcattilio Marcattilii, Vincenzo Teresa, Agostino Tibaudi, Marcello Quinto and Enrico Venturelli, will also leave after Brighton’s final Premier League match.

The Italian manager said: ‘I am very sad to be leaving Brighton, but I am very proud of what my players and staff have achieved with the support of everyone at the club and our amazing fans in the past two historical seasons.

‘We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our own ideas and visions, as well as our work and human...