Arsenal’s sporting director Edu has turned his back on the Champions League club in favour of joining Evangelos Marinakis’ ambitious multi-club model including Nottingham Forest
Arsenal’s sporting director Edu has turned his back on the Champions League club in favour of joining Evangelos Marinakis’ ambitious multi-club model including Nottingham Forest Arsenal’s sporting director Edu has turned his back on the Champions League club in favour of joining Evangelos Marinakis’ ambitious multi-club model including Nottingham Forest
Shortly after their Premier League promotion was confirmed, an agent sat across a delegation from Nottingham Forest.
He was asked how he would approach their upcoming elevation to the league of big boys. “Softly, softly, does it,” he said. “Oh no, that’s not the way we are going to do things,” came the reply.
Nottingham Forest were back in the big-time and they were going not only to shout it from the rooftops until they were heard. They were going to just carry on shouting from the rooftops.
And launching a raid on Arsenal this week for one of the Gunners’ chief decision-markers is brazen and sent out a strong signal. Evangelos Marinakis aimed his guns at one of the powerhouses of English football and made a point.
There was no split at the Emirates. There wasn’t a problem. Edu was perfectly happy to carry on in the role of sporting director. He’d only assumed responsibility for that job a couple of years ago, having been technical director.
Mikel Arteta has not shoved him out of the door. He hasn’t been asked to leave. If this can be perceived to be a better offer, that’s what it was.
Being in charge of three sporting directors at three different clubs – Nottingham Forest, Olympiakos and Rio Ave – with a fourth reportedly coming on line, was sufficient to turn Edu’s head. Well, that – and a whacking pay rise – which underpins the Greek magnate’s ambition.
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This is the end of a story that first reared its head during the summer when rumours first circulated that Marinakis had one eye on Edu. Clearly, Forest’s owner had in the back of his mind a streamlining of the recruitment processes at the City Ground which had been, ahem, a little haphazard.
Twenty-two players signed in the first season. A record. And kept up on the penultimate weekend of the campaign following a narrow 1-0 win over, ironically, Arsenal. They have kept coming. And, crucially, they have improved.
But – and here’s the thing – Marinakis has seen others – notably Manchester City – use the multi-club model and has decided he wants a piece of it. Olympiakos is closest to his heart. Forest offer greater opportunities to make money.
Edu will be charged with finding players to satisfy needs on two fronts. He will be the overlord, keeping Forest’s sporting director Ross Wilson, head of recruitment Pedro Ferreira and global technical director George Syrianos in check, along with Miltos, Marinakis’s son who also has input on purchases.
Whether Edu’s credentials stack up is another question. Over £850m spent on 38 players and the Gunners have still won nothing.
From the good (Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Ben White ) to the bad (Nuno Tavares, Albert Lokonga) and the downright ugly (Nicolas Pepe, David Luiz and Willian). But, you suspect, this isn’t really about Edu.
Sure, Marinakis wants to improve his recruitment. Who doesn’t? It’s more about Marinakis striking a blow for ambition. He’s plonked a stake in the ground.
Nottingham Forest never were going to go away quietly. By completing this remarkable head-hunt, Marinakis has just turned up the volume.
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