What former Man Utd player told Rio Ferdinand about Roberto De Zerbi at the weekend should make Liverpool fans very excited

Rio Ferdinand has shared what former Manchester United teammate Danny Welbeck told him about Roberto De Zerbi as the Brighton manager continues to be linked with Liverpool.

De Zerbi, who is contracted to the Seagulls until 2026, has played down suggestions he will be Jurgen Klopp's replacement after the German announced his intention to leave Anfield at the end of the season.

When asked about the soon-to-be vacancy at Liverpool after their FA Cup victory over Sheffield United, the Italian said: "Now it is not my focus. My focus is on my players, my team, my fans, my club.

"We have a lot of things to reach this season and then we will see [about] the future."

Still, De Zerbi remains one of the favourites to become Liverpool boss. In fact, Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio says De Zerbi and Xabi Alonso are the main candidates for the job.

Whether the 44-year-old will leave Brighton is still unclear, but Rio Ferdinand was full of praise for De Zerbi, who was recently labelled "one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years" by Pep Guardiola.

In fact, the former Manchester United and England defender opened up about a conversation he had with Brighton's Danny Welbeck at the weekend, and it will give fans an insight into his meticulous management style.

“I think you’ve got to listen to the players he coaches. That’s a big thing," Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel Vibe with Five.

"I don’t know if the recruitment do that. I’ve spoken to a few of the guys down at Brighton, Danny Welbeck said something yesterday like the level of detail that this guy goes into, to be understanding your opponents and what he wants from you, he said I’ve never seen it. And he’s played at big clubs, Arsenal, Man United. And now, obviously he’s at Brighton.

“He’s played under enough managers, and at international level too, to know what’s a good manager and what isn’t. And the level of detail he goes into, he said he’s great at making individuals better.”

Image credit: Getty

De Zerbi has also been touted to replace Xavi as Barcelona manager at the end of the season.