Summary:
- Arsenal’s sporting director Edu is to say goodbye to the club.
- After ongoing talks with Arsenal, the Brazilian decided to leave the club.
- The move will represent a major blow for manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal is to bid goodbye to a key ally with the departure of sporting director Edu (Eduardo César Daud Gaspar), who is set to leave the club.
Alleged Mutual Agreement: Edu Opted to Step Down
Reports from the Daily Mail suggest that ongoing discussions have been underway with the Premier League club’s hierarchy, which have led to Edu’s decision to depart.
While the exact reasons remain unclear, there is speculation that responsibilities may have been restructured within Arsenal’s leadership.
However, a source told Mail Sport it would be “too simplistic” to describe it as a power struggle. It would appear that Edu has chosen to step down.
His departure could disrupt the close partnership he has built with Arteta, as the two have shared a clear vision for Arsenal’s future and worked collaboratively to bring that vision to life.
A Huge Influence on the Club
Edu’s exit would mark a major shift in management structure, as the Brazilian who is also a former Arsenal midfielder, has been instrumental in the club’s resurgence in recent years.
His influence has been felt across various aspects of Arsenal’s operations, from squad overhauls to strategic recruitment moves.
Appointed as technical director in 2019, Edu was tasked with steering the club into a new era, shaping its future through a comprehensive approach to club operations.
His role extended beyond recruitment as he was responsible for implementing Arsenal’s footballing philosophy, managing academy player development, and conducting in-depth assessments of the first-team squad.
Edu’s remit was to oversee nearly every aspect of the first team except the day-to-day training and team selection, which remained under manager Mikel Arteta’s purview.
The Sao Pulo-born has been a key figure in high-profile transfers, notably bringing in captain Martin Odegaard and record signing Declan Rice.
He also played a crucial role in restructuring the squad, handling the departures of star players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Özil, moves that marked a new chapter in Arsenal’s approach.
His meticulous approach has helped position Arsenal as Premier League contenders, with strategic, high-quality acquisitions aimed at strengthening the squad for the long term.
Edu’s journey from technical midfielder to technical director seems almost inevitable given his background.
With a father who was a teacher, Edu has an academic foundation and an inclination toward understanding the internal workings of the clubs he represented as a player, including Corinthians, Arsenal, and Valencia.
He has previously spoken of his fascination with the “administrative side” of the game, and he has aimed to “bring a corporate reality” to football, notably with the Brazilian national team setup.
At Arsenal, Edu is known as a personable figure who values informal, direct communication with colleagues, often preferring face-to-face interactions or texts over formal emails.
His rapport with staff has been further strengthened by his legacy as a member of Arsène Wenger’s “Invincibles” squad, a factor that has earned him enduring respect within the club.