Arsenal sporting director Edu 'to QUIT' in major blow to Mikel Arteta after crisis talks
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The Arsenal board is set to make some significant changes in the near future with Edu reportedly set to leave his role as sporting director.
The Spaniard has helped oversee a drastic overhaul at the club over the past five years and has been responsible for signings such as Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.
He was brought in as technical director at Arsenal in July 2019 before being appointed sporting director a few months later with Mikel Arteta arriving as Arsenal's new manager in December 2019.
But Edu, who is renowned as one of the best sporting directors in world football, is now supposedly set to leave the club.
Edu is reportedly leaving Arsenal
PA
According to the Daily Mail, Edu was locked in talks with the club hierarchy and has made the decision to leave.
It's supposedly 'unclear' why Edu has decided to leave Arsenal after five years with the club.
But the news will likely come as a significant blow to Arteta, who has enjoyed a close working relationship with his compatriot at the Emirates.
Speaking back in 2022, Arteta made it clear how he felt about Edu's future with the club.
“I hope that he stays here for a long time because I think it’s going to be a really positive thing for the club," Arteta two years ago.
“I’ve work with him really well and I think he’s a super important figure at the club that represents all of the values and ideas that we want to take the right way, and hopefully that will be the case.”
The Arsenal boss also described Edu as 'really important' and explained how the two have worked so well together.
“I think it has to be in that relationship," he added.
Edu has been the Arsenal sporting director for five years
PA
"First of all, it has to be well-respected and the rules have to be really clear.
"You have to share the same ideas but at the same time you have to challenge each other because sometimes coaches have all the ideas and we want something right now, but it might not be the best thing for the club.
“We have the right balance – not only with Edu but with Vinai, Rich, and Tim in this case with the ownership.
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Mikel Arteta has a close working relationship with Edu
PA
"It’s really important that at the end when we make a decision, it is all together – it’s not your decision or my idea and in good and difficult moments to all be together.”
Arteta is set to face the media on Tuesday ahead of Arsenal's Champions League match with Inter Milan where he will likely be asked about Edu's reported departure.
But the Arsenal boss is unlikely to follow his compatriot out the door after signing a new three-year contract just last month.
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