Arsenal chiefs are ‘surprised’ that sporting director Edu is to make a shock departure from the club. On Monday morning it emerged that the 46-year-old, who has played a pivotal role in recruitment since returning to the place where he was revered as a player, had opted to leave north-London.
The Brazilian, who initially took up the role of technical director in 2019 before switching positions three years later, has played a pivotal role in the club’s recruitment policy, bringing the likes of Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Jesus to the club.
He is now reportedly in talks with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who also has control of Greek side Olympiacos and Portugal’s Rio Ave.
A deal between the two is yet to be confirmed, but fans if the Gunners are now anxiously awaiting confirmation that the 46-year-old is indeed leaving the Emirates. And according to Sky Sports News, club chiefs have been caught off guard by the the development and are surprised by Edu’s decision.
He has shared a close relationship with Mikel Arteta since the Spaniard himself came back on board at the club as manager five years ago. And in September, when Arteta signed a new contract, Edu spoke positively about their new long-term ambitions together.
Arsenal have finished second in back-to-back Premier League campaigns, and it was during the 2022/23 campaign that Arteta publicly spoke about dealing with his sporting director on a daily basis. “I hope that he stays here for a long time because I think it’s going to be a really positive thing for the club,” he said.
“I’ve work with him really well. I think he’s a super important figure at the club that represents all of the values and ideas that we want to take the right way, and hopefully that will be the case.
“There is a lot happening at a football club and he has a huge role, but he has a really good way of communicating with people and managing a lot of things that happen daily. So for me and for the team he’s really important.”
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