Brighton have been rocked by a public spat between manager Roberto De Zerbi and star player Leandro Trossard in the build-up to their Premier League game against Liverpool.
The Seagulls host Jurgen Klopp’s side at 3pm on Saturday and will be without joint top-scorer Trossard for the fixture. The Belgian has been dropped from the squad by De Zerbi following an escalation of the row between the two which saw Trossard walk out of training.
Trossard’s contract is set to expire in June 2024 and negotiations over an extension have broken down amid heavy criticism from the Italian manager, who took over from Graham Potter in September.
"He left the session without saying anything to me, and it's not good," De Zerbi said of Trossard on Friday. "I spoke with him and I explained this attitude, behaviour, I don't like."
He added: "I am open with him (Trossard) to take a step back and listen to him, but he has to understand with me. I want only players who work hard and play for the team 100 per cent. I don't know about the transfer market, if he wants to change teams or not."
Reconciliation appears unlikely after Trossard’s agent, Josy Comhair, accused De Zerbi of “incomprehensible” management and of “humiliating” Trossard in a stinging statement on Friday evening.
"Leandro still was a first-11 player against Southampton and Arsenal but against Everton he was on the bench. In the five substitutions that took place then, he was also not among them and this without any explanation," said Comhair.
"In the run-up to the match against Middlesbrough for the FA Cup, Leandro had already reported calf problems twice. This was the reason he stopped training. This was in consultation with the medical staff.
"Through the physical trainer Leandro learned that he had to train separately. Last Monday, the manager humiliated Leandro in [front of the] group and indicated that he no longer wanted to see him. A manager who has not communicated directly with his player for four weeks is really incomprehensible.
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"It is also the trainer who has indicated several times that a transfer is the most reasonable solution. It is therefore important that Brighton cooperate this mercato [transfer window] with a potential transfer."
Trossard’s situation comes as a blow to Brighton, given the 28-year-old attacker netted a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw at Anfield in October. He has seven goals and two assists in 17 appearances this season and played in all four of Belgium’s games at the World Cup.
Trossard has been linked with a move to Tottenham, who could try to take advantage of his falling-out with De Zerbi in the January transfer window.
