(Reuters) – Ahead of their clash against Luton Town on Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto de Zerbi stated that midfielder Moises Caicedo is no longer on their minds as they prepare for the new Premier League season.
Last season, 21-year-old Caicedo impressed at Brighton, making 37 appearances for the club as they finished sixth in the Premier League and qualified for European competition for the first time. This outstanding performance has attracted interest from several clubs, including Chelsea.
Rumors circulated in British media on Friday that Liverpool had agreed to a deal worth £111 million ($140.90 million) with Brighton for Caicedo’s transfer.
When asked about Caicedo, De Zerbi responded, “I have already forgotten about Moises. I’m really proud of the players we have in the squad. We want to keep improving. The credit goes to the club. Bigger clubs can buy our players but they can’t buy our soul or spirit. We don’t have enough players yet, we need to complete the squad. I want players who want to come here. We are Brighton, we achieved a big target last year – the same as Liverpool, better than Chelsea. I would like players who are proud to play in Brighton.”
The south-coast club is preparing to face newly-promoted side Luton in their first league game of the season. De Zerbi warned that it could prove to be a tough test for Brighton and emphasized the importance of their motivation and spirit. “For them, it will be a historic day. We have to fight if we want to win. We have to play like a top team.”
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(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Credit: The Star : Sport Feed
