'Humiliated' Leandro Trossard is looking to leave Brighton after being left out of the squad that will host Liverpool today, according to his agent.
Trossard was the toast of the south coast in October when his hat-trick earned the Seagulls a 3-3 draw against the Reds at Anfield. But he will play no part in today's corresponding fixture after manager Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that he had been left out of the match-day squad because of his poor attitude.
That decision has left Trossard furious and on Friday, his agent released a statement claiming that his client was now looking at the possibility of leaving the club altogether.
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According to The Guardian, friction between De Zerbi and Trossard flared weeks ago after a training ground incident and the Brighton boss was seemingly unimpressed by his player's reaction to not being selected for an FA Cup match against Middlesbrough.
Trossard's agent Josy Comhair said: “In the run-up to the match against Middlesbrough for the FA Cup, Leandro had already indicated twice that he had problems with his calf. This was the reason why he stopped training. This was, incidentally, in consultation with the medical staff. The manager told Leandro that he had to train separately.
“Last Monday, the manager humiliated Leandro in [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. It is also the manager who has indicated several times that a transfer is the most convenient solution.
“It is therefore important that Brighton cooperates with a potential transfer during this transfer period and shows a benevolent attitude, which is beneficial to both parties.”
De Zerbi confirmed Trossard's absence from the Brighton squad that will face Liverpool in his pre-match press conference on Friday, explaining he his player left training before the FA Cup match after learning he was not in the team.
De Zerbi said: “It’s not good. The Monday after, I spoke with him and I explained this attitude, this behaviour, I don’t like.”
The Italian manager had previously voiced dissatisfaction regarding Trossard's attitude. As per The Guardian, he said: “He knows very well that if he wants to play with Brighton with me, he has to work hard, he has to run, he has to be in the right way. We are not a big team such as Real Madrid or Barcelona; we are Brighton and we need players who work like the others.
“I don’t know what is the problem. I want to be clear, I am open with him 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%. I don’t know about the transfer market, if he wants to change teams or not. It’s not my problem. I’m only a coach.”
Brighton are eighth in the Premier League, just one point behind seventh-placed Liverpool. A home win would see the Seagulls leapfrog their opponents today, but the Reds are in desperate need of a positive result after their miserable 3-1 defeat at Brentford threatened to derail Jurgen Klopp's Champions League qualification hopes.
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