Roberto De Zerbi Responds to Manchester United Rumours as Red Devils Continue Amorim Replacement Hunt

‎Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi has finally spoken out about speculation linking him with the vacant Manchester United job following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal. The Red Devils are currently being guided by former midfielder Michael Carrick, who has taken over on a caretaker basis until the end of the 2025–26 season while the club searches for a long-term successor.

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Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi responds to Manchester United job rumors as the club hunts for Ruben Amorim’s permanent successor, while praising the Premier League and reaffirming his commitment to Marseille.

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‎Manchester United are expected to appoint a permanent head coach in the summer as they continue their managerial hunt. De Zerbi was reportedly interviewed for the role at Old Trafford in 2024 but chose to decline the opportunity at the time. Despite that, the club are believed to remain admirers of the Italian and could renew their interest. De Zerbi joined Marseille in 2024 on a three-year deal after an impressive spell with Brighton in the Premier League, and he guided the French side to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 during his debut campaign.

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‎Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Marseille’s Champions League clash with Liverpool, De Zerbi was asked about his future and the rumors linking him to United. He insisted his attention remains firmly on his current role, saying: “My focus is on Marseille. I wanted to come here, I'm here before a very important match and there's nothing else on my mind. I feel good here and I have nothing to say about the future, we'll talk about that later. I feel very good in this city and this club.”

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‎The Italian tactician also reflected on the appeal of the Premier League, describing it as the strongest competition in the world, while reaffirming his happiness in France. In an interview with TNT Sports, he said: “Marseille is the right place for me, because the people love football and they feel the passion. It's a religion more than a sport, and it's more than a job. If you want to work at the club, you have to eat, drink, and sleep football. At the moment, I feel very good at this club. We're building something special. Medhi Benatia, Pablo Longoria, and I are working to make Marseille better. I feel my work in the city is not finished. In the future, for sure, the Premier League is a different fashion to any other league in the world, but at the moment, my focus is just on Marseille. The Premier League is absolutely the best league in the world, and I have great memories of when I worked in Brighton. It was an amazing experience for me, and I feel the league is getting better and better.”

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‎Marseille midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has also heaped praise on De Zerbi, describing him as one of the best coaches he has worked with. Ahead of the Liverpool match, Hojbjerg said: “It's fantastic playing here, honestly. To have this as our home crowd and as our stadium, I'm smiling because it is so nice. You can expect fireworks. He's a good coach and a good guy. I like the way he wants to play, it's fantastic. He's amongst the best coaches that I've had, so it's a joy to be able to have him as a coach. It doesn't matter if you're 25, 30, or 20; he wants to progress every player, and that's a nice feeling. We have to stay ambitious, but also we have to stay focused on working hard. Then, I think we will do great things, but it has to be day-by-day and game-by-game.”

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‎De Zerbi is set to face Manchester United’s fierce rivals Liverpool next in the Champions League, with a win likely to catch the attention of decision-makers at Old Trafford. The Marseille boss warned the Reds to expect an intense atmosphere at the Velodrome, saying: “Tomorrow, the Velodrome will be filled with festive cheer. With the demand for tickets, we could fill two stadiums. We'll need to be ready for the atmosphere. Not just in terms of the desire to run, but also the personality. We're going to try to win the match.”