De Zerbi backs Gattuso: ‘Nobody better to lead Italy at World Cup’

Roberto De Zerbi says Gennaro Gattuso is the right man to guide Italy through a difficult moment and insists there is “nobody better” to take the Azzurri to the 2026 World Cup.

The Marseille coach was speaking at the launch event for Giorgio Perinetti’s new book ‘Quello che non ho visto arrivare’, dedicated to Perinetti’s daughter Emanuela, who passed away in 2023.

De Zerbi said the story moved him deeply and reminded him of the responsibilities he carries as both a father and a coach.

He explained that personal experiences inevitably shape the way he approaches his work on the touchline.

“You always try to make as few mistakes as possible with your children,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, noting that many of the players he works with are still very young. “The person always comes before the player.”

Turning to his club season, De Zerbi admitted Marseille have been hampered by injuries, describing the current calendar as “crazy” and “relentless.” He expects Paris Saint-Germain to remain out in front in Ligue 1, but believes OM can still battle for space near the top of the table.

When asked about the wider issue of fixture congestion, he avoided entering the debate fully, saying it was “not the day for polemics,” even if there are plenty of concerns surrounding domestic and international scheduling.

On the Azzurri, De Zerbi was blunt: Italy must qualify for the World Cup, and all discussions about the team’s struggles come after that objective. And for him, the man best suited to steer the national side is Gennaro Gattuso.
“Gattuso is exactly the right person,” De Zerbi said. “Right now, I don’t think Italy could have anyone better.”

He closed by joking that the only derby on his mind was Marseille’s match against Nice on Friday. “That one is already difficult enough,” he laughed.