What Happened?
Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi made an unexpected hour-long FaceTime call to Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele in late January, shortly after Steele underwent shoulder surgery. The gesture caught Steele off guard, and his wife was particularly surprised that the former Brighton head coach took the time to check in on him.
The Bigger Picture
De Zerbi managed Brighton for two seasons (2022–2024) before moving to Ligue 1 giants Marseille. Steele, who has been with Brighton since 2018, made 44 appearances under the Italian coach. Reflecting on the call, Steele highlighted how remarkable it was that De Zerbi reached out on a Friday night—less than 24 hours before Marseille’s next match—showcasing his character beyond the pitch.
What Jason Steele Said
Speaking to talkSPORT (via Get French Football News), Steele shared:
“I had surgery seven weeks ago, and the night I came home, still in pain, he FaceTimed me for an hour. His team was playing the next day, yet he still took the time to check in on me. That says a lot about him as a person.”
“My wife was sitting next to me, looking after me, and she was stunned. She said, ‘I can’t believe that just happened—is that normal? I don’t think it is.’”
What’s Next for Roberto De Zerbi?
De Zerbi is thriving at Marseille, guiding the team toward a potential Champions League spot next season amid speculation about a return to Serie A. Currently sitting second in Ligue 1, Marseille will face Reims on Saturday, March 29.
