Edu Gaspar’s exit from Arsenal as sporting director came as a surprise to many, especially given his close relationship with Mikel Arteta and the progress the team had been making. However, a closer look reveals a blend of transfer frustrations and old connections at play.
Edu’s long-standing relationship with influential agent Kia Joorabchian, who represents top players and is heavily involved in both football and horse racing, appears central to his departure.
Joorabchian, who brought talents like Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to West Ham, has been a friend and business associate of Edu since his playing days.
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Joorabchian helped broker Edu’s contract with Arsenal, and some of Arsenal’s early transfers under Edu, including signings like Willian and David Luiz, were Joorabchian clients.
Edu, once considered a potential future CEO at Arsenal, grew frustrated with the club’s limited spending in the recent transfer windows, particularly the last-minute loan move for Raheem Sterling rather than securing a bigger-name forward.
His ambition to take on a higher executive role at Arsenal seemed out of reach, and with Arsenal’s challenging season start, the timing felt right for a move.
Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos, took notice. The Greek businessman, who was recently seen with Joorabchian at horse auctions, reportedly offered Edu a role within his multi-club network, which could see Edu earn three times his Arsenal salary.
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Edu’s new position will involve overseeing operations at Forest, along with coordinating talent and recruitment strategies across Marinakis’ clubs.
Arsenal is now in a tight spot, searching for a suitable replacement to maintain their recent momentum.
Arteta, along with Arsenal executives Tim Lewis and Richard Garlick, is expected to play a big part in finding the right person for the role. For Arsenal, it’s an unexpected setback but also a chance to reset as they look toward a competitive future.
