'Is that normal?!' - Brighton player's wife left shocked by hour-long FaceTime call made by Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi that 'speaks volumes about him as a human being'

Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi surprised Brighton player Jason Steele with an unexpected hour-long FaceTime call in late January after the goalkeeper underwent surgery on a shoulder injury he had suffered. Steele shared his thoughts on the gesture from the former Seagulls head coach, revealing that his wife was truly amazed that the Italian had bothered to call.

De Zerbi was the manager of Brighton for two seasons between 2022 and 2024, before leaving his post to join Ligue 1 heavyweights Marseille. Steele, who has been a Brighton player since 2018, made 44 appearances under the former Shakhtar Donetsk boss during his time in as a Premier League manager. Indeed, Steele noted that for De Zerbi to make the call on a Friday night, less than 24 hours before Marseille had a match to play the following day, "speaks volumes about him as a human being".

In an interview with talkSPORT (h/t Get French Football News), Steele said: "I came out from surgery seven weeks ago, his team were playing a day later, Marseille, and he FaceTimed me for an hour on the Friday night. That speaks volumes about him as a person, as a human being.

"The day I came out of surgery, that evening I go back home in pain, etc and he FaceTimed me. My wife was sat next to me looking after me on the couch, and she’s like ‘I can’t believe that’s just happened, is that normal? I actually don’t think that is normal."

De Zerbi is enjoying a successful season at the helm of Marseille, leading the team towards a potential Champions League spot next season amid rumors of a Serie A return. Currently second in Ligue 1, Marseille will face Reims next Saturday, March 29.