A bad period for Arsenal could be about to get significantly worse amid reports that sporting director Edu is set to leave the club. The Brazilian, considered one of the best in the world in his current role, returned to the club where he was revered as a player in 2019, initially as technical director.
His job title was switched three years later, and he has since been credited with turning the club into Premier League title contenders by securing signings like Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Leandro Trossard.
With their 2024/25 campaign stuttering amid the latest defeat at Newcastle on Saturday, Gunners fans are likely to be fearful of the consequences of today’s speculation, with manager Mike Arteta having worked closely with the 46-year-old.
Express Sport looks at everything we know about the situation so far….
Is Edu’s exit confirmed?
Neither the man himself, nor the club, have offered any kind of confirmation that Edu will be making a shock departure from the club. According to the Daily Mail though, the ex-midfielder has decided to leave the Emirates Stadium off his own accord.
Despite the current radio silence, it is inevitable Arteta will be asked about the speculation in his next press conference on Tuesday, ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan the following day. By then, club chiefs would surely have had to provide public clarity to avoid their manager facing a barrage of media enquiries.
Why would Edu leave?
He made 127 appearances for the north-London club between 2001 and 2006, won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and left having forever cemented himself in club folklore as an ‘Invincible’. His work upstairs since 2019 has been widely lauded, as has his ability to identify where the club need to strengthen.
So why then, would Edu consider leaving?
There is said to have been changes in responsibility among senior figures at the club, which may be a factor in Edu departing. But more tellingly, reports have also emerged that he is close to a deal to join up with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and his network of clubs.
According to the Independent, Edu has already been in talks with the Marinakis group and could now be set to lead the recruitment of clubs like Forest, Greek side Olympiacos, and Portugal’s Rio Ave. Arsenal’s loss therefore, could yet end up being another Premier League side’s gain.
Would Edu be granted an immediate release?
While Edu has proven himself a master at negotiations when bringing players to his club, he won’t hold the aces if he now wants to depart. The exact details of his own current contract at the Emirates have remained private, but it won’t be a case of here today, gone tomorrow.
The Dan Ashworth saga this summer underlined the difficulties for sporting directors to move around in the modern day. Edu will inevitably have to serve a notice period, and Mr Marinakis is likely to have to stump up a sizeable compensation fee for his services.
