“Brighton Chairman Tony Bloom Discusses Summer Spending and Managerial Philosophy Changes”
Brighton chairman Tony Bloom discussed the club’s significant spending this summer, which would not have occurred under former manager Roberto De Zerbi. Brighton became Europe’s biggest net spenders this summer, following previous windows where they sold several top talents.
New Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has embraced the club’s transfer policy more fully since his arrival this summer, a shift Bloom attributes to a greater alignment with the club’s philosophy compared to De Zerbi.
Bloom explained that while Brighton also invested heavily during De Zerbi’s tenure, the overall process and philosophy remained unchanged. Hurzeler’s acceptance of the policy contrasts with De Zerbi’s approach, which included personal preferences for specific players that did not align with the club’s method.
At Brighton, player recruitment is a collaborative process involving both the club and the head coach, but it is not driven solely by the head coach’s preferences. Bloom clarified that a coach’s interest in a player is just one part of a broader evaluation that includes data analysis and other factors.
Despite differences in approach, Bloom expressed gratitude for De Zerbi’s contributions and success during his time at the club. He noted that their decision to part ways was amicable, given the misalignment between the head coach’s and the club’s long-term goals.