Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has broken his silence on the exit of the club’s sporting director and former player Edu, MySportDab reports.
Edu has been credited for his role in Arsenal’s revamp under Mikel Arteta. Arteta admitted to sharing a ‘strong chemistry’ with the football chief.
The pair have worked together to raise the bar at the Gunners, leading the team to a runners-up finish in the English top flight in the past two seasons.
Hence, Edu’s departure from the Gunners will come as a major blow to the team.
Addressing Edu’s exit from the club, Mikel, speaking in his Inter Milan pre-match press conference, admitted or the shock of having to lose Edu.
According to him, he was happy to work with him right from his first day as Arsenal manager and he is grateful for all he has done and accomplished with the club.
Arteta added everything happened fast leading to the surprise and shocking exit of the football genius.
“Everything happened very quickly. Obviously, I loved working with him and really enjoyed being alongside him on this incredible journey.
“From day one we have been together and I’m very grateful personally for all the work he has done for the club.
‘We had this special chemistry and really enjoyed working together. He has an amazing opportunity now to do something else in a different role and he believes that is the right professional move for him. We have to respect that and everyone wants the best for him.”
Arsenal reportedly offered Edu a new lucrative contract but the 46-year-old turned it down to stay true to his intentions to leave.
He has been reportedly contracted by Nottingham Forest owner and Greek business mogul Evangelo Marinakis to become the club’s football operations officer.
The new offer will see Edu take charge of all football operations of the clubs owned by Evangelo Marinakis which includes Olympiacos, Rio de Aves in Portugal, and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
