EXCLUSIVERevealed: The power shift that led Edu to the exit at Arsenal, writes SAMI MOKBEL
- As exclusively revealed by Mail Sport, Edu has quit as Arsenal's sporting director
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Edu spent Monday breaking the news of his resignation to colleagues at Arsenal's training facility in London Colney.
Mail Sport's bombshell exclusive that the Gunners' sporting director was leaving had caught many members of staff on the hop.
There was genuine upset at the news. A popular figure at Arsenal, the 46-year-old is courteous, amiable and caring. The players enjoy his company, too.
This news arrived like a bolt out of the blue, though certain figures towards the top of the club's internal structures have been aware of what was confirmed Monday evening for a fortnight or so.
Edu's role in transforming Arsenal into one of European football's most exciting projects shouldn't be underestimated.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed on Monday that sporting director Edu has left Arsenal
The news of the influential Brazilian's departure will come as a hammer blow to the Gunners
Edu has had a major role in reviving a club that was ailing way before his arrival in July 2019
Alongside Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, they have enjoyed a fruitful and successful relationship
If Mikel Arteta drove Arsenal's stirring revolution, then Edu provided the fuel.
Reviving a culture of excellence, driving optimal standards at the club has had Edu's fingerprints all over it.
There is a famous snap of Edu, with a pair of tongs in hand, standing over a barbecue grill with a sizeable cigar perched on his lips.
It is symbolic of the pair's impact at the Emirates. Arsenal were cooking under Arteta and Edu. Not any more.
The most salient point to have emerged from the fall-out of Monday's shock development, apart from Edu's decision to leave, was his ambition to take his first steps into the world of multi-club management.
That he has been lined up by a rival Premier League club in Nottingham Forest is inconsequential in many ways.
Because if Edu ends up at the City Ground - that won't be his only stop.
He'll also end up at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, in Piraeus, Greece. He'll spend time at the Estadio dos Arcos, in Vila do Conde, Portugal.
If Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has his way, Edu will be posted at another European destination, too, as the Greek businessman looks to add to his portfolio of clubs.
Edu isn't leaving Arsenal for Forest. He is leaving for at least three clubs.
Football is so often fuelled by ego. For the best of the best - why control just one club when you can hold authority over several?
Our information earlier this year was that Edu had grown fascinated with the challenges a multi-club model had to offer, and more pertinently, what undertaking such a role would be like.
Just recently, Neill Blake left his role as Bournemouth CEO to take up a senior position with owners Black Knight, who also have stakes in Auckland FC and Hibernian - news exclusively revealed in the Sami Mokbel Column in August.
Edu (2nd right) was part of the Invincibles and knows all about the inner workings of the club
A squad rich with expensive underachievers has been refreshed with hungry footballers who have propelled the club out of their malaise like Declan Rice (above) and Martin Odegaard
It is intriguing then that Forest owner Marinakis has made it his long-term ambition to employee Edu into a similar over-arching role, willing to hand him the control of his multi-club operation which also includes Olympiacos and Rio Ave. The Greek billionaire is trying to add another European club to his expanding footballing enterprise, too.
Forest's interest in Edu originates from the summer and talks have taken place discreetly. There is now every chance that Marinakis gets his man.
The prospect of the Brazilian swapping the Emirates for the City Ground doesn't necessarily appear an upward step, though Forest supporters would point to the fact their side is currently higher in the Premier League table.
You'd imagine Marinakis would be willing to make the jump financially worthwhile for Edu, too.
Sources on Monday indicated that Marinakis would be willing to at least double Edu's current wage at Arsenal, which is understood to be between £2-3million.
Many would gawp at that sort of money.
But you're only worth what your superiors are willing to pay you and Edu has flourished into one of the most accomplished sporting directors in European football.
The South American's long-term future will become clearer in the coming days, though his departure will undoubtedly raise further uncertainty at Arsenal during a period that has seen the team take just one point from a possible nine to leave their title ambitions in danger.
Edu's influence in reviving a club that was ailing, in truth, way before Arsene Wenger's departure in 2018 is clear and well-documented.
A squad rich with expensive under-achievers has been refreshed with hungry footballers who have propelled the club out of their malaise.
Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have left. Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard are now leading Arsenal into a new era.
Edu's arrival in 2019, originally as technical director, stoked memories of Arsenal's glorious past.
The former midfielder was part of Arsenal's Invincibles squad after all, winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cups with the Gunners.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is an admirer of Edu and could offer him a role
But his accomplishments off the pitch as an administrator at Arsenal are just as much worth their weight in gold.
So why now? Why leave when Arsenal are once again a formidable force?
Financials are, inevitably, a factor. Marinakis has made him an astronomical offer.
Yet, a yearning for greater influence is, according to certain sources, is also key to consider.
Those close to the situation claim that, to a degree, there has been a dilution of Edu's power behind the scenes. Or more succinctly, Edu craved greater autonomy without ever getting it.
It is said that Tim Lewis, who has a close relationship with owner Stan Kroenke, has seen his influence grow since his appointment as a non-executive director to the Arsenal board in 2020.
The eyes and ears of the Kroenkes, Lewis' clout shouldn't be under-estimated.
Richard Garlick, who originally joined the club as director of football operations in 2021, assumed more control when he was promoted to the role as chief executive officer earlier this year.
The departure of Vinai Venkatesham, who worked closely with Edu, from the role of CEO would have arrived as a blow to the Brazilian.
Given his impact on revolutionising the club's footballing operation, there was a sense that Edu may have been tailor-made as Venkatesham's successor - though it was a position eventually taken by Garlick, whose reputation within English football is strong.
Mail Sport understands there has been a dilution of Edu's power behind the scenes. It is said that Tim Lewis (right), owner Stan Kroenke's family lawyer, has seen his influence grow
The departure of CEO Vinai Venkatesham (centre) last year was also viewed as a blow to Edu
Written by Isaan Khan
But given his body of work, if Edu had pined for greater control, then you would understand.
At the start of the summer there was, according to sources, an emerging sense Edu was getting itchy feet.
That, perhaps, he had gone stale at Arsenal and that the role didn't necessarily provide the South American with the level of challenge he wanted.
Enter Marinakis. Leading roles within multi-club structures are becoming increasingly desirable. Just ask Jurgen Klopp, who was appointed global head of soccer for the Red Bull group last month.
Arsenal have been faced with losing Edu before. In 2022, Edu emerged as a target for Paris Saint-Germain, who were in search of a sporting director at the time.
Edu was handed a promotion that November, news that saw his job title elevated from technical director to sporting director.
The news was significant at the time, Edu becoming the first owner of that job title in Arsenal history.
He deserved his promotion. He deserved his power-base. But just two years later and here we are.
Arteta signed a new deal earlier this year understood to be well in-excess of £10million a year. The Spaniard's powerbase has unquestionably increased, too. Edu's, arguably, hasn't.
Edu is also viewed as extremely popular among Arsenal's staff and certainly the players
News of Edu's departure emerged as a shock to those at Arsenal and will hit the Gunners hard
Time will tell how Arteta copes without Edu, who was one of his closest allies.
Yet, he won't be the only who misses Edu's warmth.
'He always calls you "my friend" when you're on the phone to him,' said one top-flight sporting director.
'That goes a long way. A truly nice guy.'
Yet, with that said, they'll all be trying to jump into Edu's old job now.
