Edu: Arsenal sporting director to leave club with Gunners surprised by his decision
Arsenal's sporting director, Edu, has made the choice to depart from the club.
The departure of the Brazilian player coincides with a growing interest from Evangelos Marinakis' group of clubs regarding a potential position for him.
At present, they own Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos, and Rio Ave, and they are also considering the acquisition of a fourth club in Europe in the future.
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It remains uncertain if Edu has decided to become a part of the team.
Sky Sports News reports that Edu's choice has caught Arsenal off guard.
The sporting director was in Brazil dealing with personal issues and returned late last week.
The 46-year-old has a close relationship with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, and together they have transformed Arsenal into a team that competes for the championship.
In September, when the manager inked a new contract, Edu had laid out their future goals. There were no indications that he was thinking about stepping down from his position.
Edu came on board as Arsenal's technical director in July 2019 and made history in November 2022 by becoming the club's inaugural sporting director.
The ex-Gunners midfielder played a key role in bringing in players like Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice. He also aided in transferring out notable names such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil.
Since Edu joined the club, Arsenal has invested £867 million, which is only surpassed by Chelsea and Manchester United during the same timeframe. In addition to their spending, they have secured the FA Cup and finished as runners-up in the Premier League for the past two seasons.
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"Edu Seeks More Influence In Arsenal Shakeup"
Miguel Delaney, the head football writer for The Independent, shared his insights with Sky Sports News:
There have been some indications of changes in the dynamics at Arsenal, though it may not be a direct power struggle. People are wondering if this has played a role in the recent decision-making.
"I believe that Edu is looking for greater influence in some capacity, and the Marinakis group is ready to provide that opportunity for him."
Regarding the impact on Arteta: "I'm not convinced it will have a significant effect, considering the changes happening at Arsenal."
I believe Arteta has transitioned from being just the head coach to taking on the role of a full-time manager, gaining significantly greater authority and impact in player acquisitions.
"However, the speed at which Edu's departure occurred has been quite sudden, and Arsenal will need to ensure they make the right choice for his replacement."
