Edu Gaspar has resigned from his role as Arsenal’s sporting director.
The Brazilian, who used to play for the Gunners under Arsene Wenger, returned to the club in the summer of 2019 as their first-ever technical director.
Edu was promoted and made the sporting director in November 2022, and he has been one of the biggest reasons why the North Londoners have progressed so well over the last five years.
On Monday, it was confirmed that Edu had resigned from his role at Arsenal, and that has to be viewed as a big blow to the club.
Pep Guardiola reacts to Edu Gaspar leaving Arsenal
Edu’s incredible work at Arsenal has helped them compete with Manchester City for the Premier League title in each of the last two seasons.
The Brazilian worked hand-in-hand with Mikel Arteta to build a brilliant team. The duo laid the foundations and deserves a lot of praise.
Pep Guardiola has kept an eye on Arsenal since his good pal Arteta took charge of the club, but he has watched them a lot more over the last two years.
The Manchester City boss, who is widely regarded as the best manager in the world, knows how important a sporting director is to a project.
City’s director Txiki Begiristain will be leaving the Etihad at the end of this season, but Edu has beaten him to the exit door following his resignation.
In a press conference on Monday, Guardiola was asked about Edu’s departure and how big a blow it is going to be for Arsenal.
The Manchester City manager replied: “I don’t know (if it’s a setback). I don’t know how they work. I know everything he has done there, an incredible job, but it’s a question for Mikel. When is the press conference?
“I don’t know. I can answer about Txiki, I can answer about Hugo Viana. But Arsenal, I don’t know, I’m not there.”
READ MORE: Two factors convinced Arsenal that Edu Gaspar would stay – this is why they were wrong
Edu’s next role after Arsenal exit
The news that came out on Monday about Edu leaving sent shockwaves among the Arsenal fan base.
Nobody was expecting Edu to leave – even Arsenal thought he would stay for another year to see out the project he started at the club.
But, the Brazilian decided that it was time for him to take up a different challenge, and it looks like Edu will be joining Evangelos Marinakis’ football group.
The 46-year-old will have control over Nottingham Forest, Rio Ave and Olympiacos, who are all owned by Marinakis, and the expectation is that another team will be added to the group.
Edu leaving is a shame for Arsenal, but it now gives Stan and Josh Kroenke a chance to find someone even better to take the club to the next level.
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