Former Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar is edging closer to finally being officially appointed in a global role working under Evangelos Marinakis, according to a report.
Sami Mokbel reports for the BBC that former Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar should be confirmed in a new global role within Evangelos Marinakis’ multi-club model in the coming weeks.
Edu has already left Arsenal and completed his notice period, and he’s reportedly been working for Marinakis on an informal basis since his departure from north London.
But the Brazilian’s official appointment still hasn’t been confirmed, with the process ongoing. It should be completed and announced later this summer.
Marinakis has been the owner of Nottingham Forest for the last few years, but Mokbel adds in the same report that he’s diluting his control of the club in preparation for his team’s potential qualification for the Champions League.
Given Marinakis is also the owner of Olympiakos, both clubs qualifying for the Champions League would contravene UEFA’s rules around multi-club ownership. But it seems he’s now stepping back at Forest to avoid that scenario.
Though his departure from Arsenal has been public knowledge for a long while now, Edu shared his farewell earlier this month, writing on Instagram: “After five and a half years, my journey officially as Sporting Director of Arsenal FC has come to the end.
“I joined the club in July 2019 as Technical Director, with the challenge of bringing Arsenal with the mission of bringing Arsenal back where it belongs among football’s elite, driving a cultural shift, keep competing for trophies, and making Champions League qualification the minimum expectation for a club of Arsenal’s size.
“Later, I had the honour of becoming the first-ever Sporting Director in the club’s history, a milestone I will always carry with great pride.
“And throughout this process of rebuilding, you the fans were an essential part of everything! To the supporters, my most sincere thank you! The support, the energy, and the connection we felt again in every match were simply special.
“I wish Arsenal FC all the best and every success, and I also send my warmest wishes to the new Sporting Director Andrea Berta, who now takes on this beautiful role.”