Sagna admits he moved to Benevento to play for De Zerbi.
He told Brighton's website: "No one understood my choice to go to Benevento, but now I think people have given themselves an answer: I was coached by one of the best coaches in the world.
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"At Manchester City I was coached by Pep Guardiola and De Zerbi, from the first training sessions, reminded me of him a lot.
"They are the only coaches who spoke to me about attachment to the shirt and dedication. Even though the infrastructure was different, in that period at Benevento I felt like I was still at Manchester City."