Italy worldwide Diego Coppola reveals when he ‘fell in love with the Premier League,’ what surprised him about Brighton and Hove Albion, and the largest downside he’s encountered.
, who performed for Italy within the Underneath-21 European Championship, obtained his first two senior caps, then accomplished the stunning switch to Brighton.
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and he put pen to paper on a contract to June 2030, so is now hoping to make his Premier League debut this weekend.
epa11290875 Hellas Verona’s Diego Coppola scores the aim 1-0 throughout the Italian Serie A soccer match Hellas Verona vs Udinese Calcio at Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, 20 April 2024. EPA-EFE/EMANUELE PENNACCHIO
“I all the time noticed it as the most effective league on this planet, however greater than a dream, it was a spot I wished to achieve,”
“After I came upon Verona and Brighton had been speaking, I used to be so completely satisfied. My fondness goes again to when Manchester Metropolis received the title with my favorite participant, Yaya Touré, plus Vincent Kompany and the coach was Manuel Pellegrini. That’s after I fell in love with the Premier League.”
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The Italian revealed he would like to turn out to be like Yaya Touré, however has additionally been learning Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.
Coppola ‘surprised’ by Brighton services
PARMA, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: Diego Coppola of Hellas Verona FC appears to be like on throughout the Serie A match between Parma and Verona at Stadio Ennio Tardini on December 15, 2024 in Parma, Italy. (Picture by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Photos)
“I knew that Brighton was a membership with an excellent mission, however I used to be actually surprised after I obtained right here. The coaching centre is absurdly good, I believed the video they’d despatched me of it was some type of AI projection, nevertheless it was all actual.
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“They deal with each side of your preparation, together with yoga and pilates classes, an enormous health club, sauna, cold and warm tubs.”
Is there something Coppola has struggled with since coming to England?
“Perhaps the pasta, they actually overcook it right here…” he replied.
“Fortuitously, I haven’t seen a lot rain in Brighton up to now, it’s by the ocean and doesn’t seem to be the unhappy nation that folks depict England as in Italy. I all the time lived in Verona, the place I had household and mates, however there are many gamers right here my age that I can hang around with. I miss Italy, however to not the diploma that I wish to go straight again. I’m even getting used to driving on the improper facet of the highway.”
DUNAJSKA STREDA, SLOVAKIA – JUNE 22: Diego Coppola of U21 Italy runs with the ball throughout the UEFA European Underneath-21 Championship 2025 Quarter-Closing match between Germany and Italy at DAC Area on June 22, 2025 in Dunajska Streda, Slovakia. (Picture by Christian Hofer/Getty Photos)
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He has additionally seen some huge variations within the coaching regime, though in some methods it’s more durable in England, in others the Italian manner is extra draining.
“In pre-season, we haven’t completed any runs with out the ball, whereas in Serie A that’s just about all you do in the beginning. It’s a very totally different schedule, we now have two free days right here, which you undoubtedly didn’t get at Verona. It’s a unique tempo, however I prefer it.
“Igor performed for Fiorentina and speaks Italian, so he took me underneath his wing, explaining I’ve to be continuously on my toes, since you can’t get distracted for a second right here.”
Relating to success in his debut season, Coppola is bound to be reasonable.
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“I’ve no expectations of going straight into the beginning XI, as there are good defenders right here, however I hope to slowly earn my place. I’ve to get used to their strategies, for instance the shortage of a pre-match spell in a lodge, however these are small particulars. Fortuitously, I all the time performed with coaches who man-mark, in order that’s one thing that may assist me right here.
“If I needed to dream, I’d say my debut season ought to finish with Premier League victory, however to be extra reasonable, stepping into the Champions League locations and personally enjoying as many video games as potential,” he concluded.