Report Parma pick Cuesta, 29-year-old Arsenal assistant manager, as new coach

Sky Sport Italia report that Carlos Cuesta, who is part of Mikel Arteta’s staff at Arsenal, is the new favourite to take over as new Parma coach.

According to transfer pundit Gianluca Di Marzio and transfer pundit Fabrizio Romano, the Ducali are ready to hand the bench over to a 29-year-old for his first major management role.

It is a particularly remarkable decision, considering he turns 30 next month.

Cuesta not new to Italian football

He is not entirely a stranger to Italian football, having been the assistant manager at the Juventus Under-17 youth team from 2018 to 2020 under Francesco Pedone.

Cuesta also had a four-year spell working in the staff at Atletico Madrid from 2014 to 2018.

Although he is not the first assistant manager to Arteta, the Spaniard does work closely with him at Arsenal and has done since the summer of 2020.

He is also under contract with the Gunners, so needs to terminate that agreement before he can accept at Parma.

There had been reports that Parma were looking to bring in a foreign coach after losing Cristian Chivu to Inter, despite having been in advanced talks with Daniele De Rossi.

Options mentioned included Mark van Bommel, who is a free agent after his experience at Royal Antwerp.