Pundit Gary Neville says he finds it “strange” Edu has decided to leave Arsenal and link up with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
On Monday, it was announced Edu had left his position as sporting director at the Emirates Stadium. Although it has not yet been confirmed, he is expected to take up a post overseeing Marinakis’ stable of clubs comprising the Reds, Olympiacos and Rio Ave.
Adding a fourth team to the Greek businessman’s conglomerate will seemingly form part of Edu’s remit – with reports from his Brazilian homeland suggesting Vasco da Gama are a likely candidate for a takeover. However, Neville says he is at a loss to understand why such a role would be preferable to trying to win the Premier League with the Gunners.
On the Stick to Football podcast, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright said Edu’s departure was a “massive surprise” and “disappointing”. But he admitted the opportunity to manage the running of three clubs was a “massive job”.
Neville responded: “No, it’s not. I’m not having that. Leaving Arsenal. If the sporting director of my club, and Arsenal are a massive club, left for Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Ave, I would be gutted.
“What’s that opportunity? To win the Greek league?”
The former defender, who said he was shocked to see Edu step down, added: “Nottingham Forest are a big club. Olympiacos are a big club and Rio Ave may be a big club as well.
“But if it was Arsenal going for a league title and doing what they’re doing currently in these last three or four years, and they haven’t won the league yet and he’s not seen it through… I am finding it immensely strange, I’ll be honest with you. Other than the fact he may have been offered a lot more money.
“I’m not saying Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Ave are not big clubs – of course they are big clubs and they have got great traditions. But my point is, to leave Arsenal, where they’ve got that massive stability over the last four or five years and he’s built a project, to go and work for Marinakis at Olympiacos and Forest, I find that strange.”
Forest hero Roy Keane said: “I wasn’t that shocked when it happened. I’m not saying those clubs are bigger, I’m just saying it’s a different challenge. Nobody is saying they are bigger than Arsenal, of course not, but it’s different.”
Edu first took up a post behind the scenes at Arsenal in 2019. During the former midfielder’s time at the club, the Gunners emerged as title contenders and a number of successful signings were made.
Former West Ham United boss David Moyes said: “Edu played a big part in Arsenal’s rise. His knowledge of players from South America has helped them greatly as well.”
On the 46-year-old’s decision to step down, Moyes added: “I’ve got to say, I agree. I thought it was strange he would leave Arsenal and the position they are in, getting close to winning a Premier League title over the last couple of years. It looked as if he had a really great relationship with Mikel (Arteta) as well.”
