Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi has no doubts that Inter Milan-owned midfielder Valentin Carboni has a bright future ahead of him.
The coach was full of praise for Carboni after the teenager made his first start for the Ligue 1 club, via FCInterNews.
Carboni joined Marseille from Inter during the summer transfer window.
The Argentine made the switch on an initial loan deal. However, Marseille have a purchase option reportedly worth around €40 million, whilst Inter have a buyback option.
That is a testament to how much potential both Marseille and Inter see Carboni as having.
Last season, the 19-year-old took his first steps in senior football.
Carboni was on loan at Monza for the campaign. He earned a spot in the starting eleven over the course of the season.
And it will be a similar process of adjustment and finding his feet at Marseille.
Carboni has not instantly become a regular starter for the Ligue 1 giants. In fact, yesterday’s match against Angers was his first ever start for his current club.
But that is not too surprising given Carboni’s age,
Marseille Coach De Zerbi: “Valentin Carboni Will Become A Top Player”
Reports suggest that De Zerbi was a key factor in Carboni’s decision to join Marseille this summer.
The former Brighton and Hove Albion, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Sassuolo coach made clear that the Argentine was a priority target for his project at the Stade Velodrome.
“I really wanted him in the team,” said De Zerbi of the Inter-owned attacking midfielder.
“Because I think he will become a top player.”
The Marseille coach said of Carboni that “He already has a lot of quality.”
“But he has the potential to become even better,” he added.
“He arrived with some fitness problems,” De Zerbi explained of Carboni. “He’s never been able to train consistently, he’s just been in training for two weeks.”
“We’ll have to see when it’s the right time,” the coach added.
“When he’s physically ready in terms of his speed and strength.”
