Martin Keown does not understand the departure of Arsenal sporting director Edu. (Images from TNT Sports)
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has admitted he finds it ‘difficult to understand’ why Edu stepped down as sporting director this week after a very successful few years with the north London club.
The The Brazilian has been a key man in the Gunners’ rise to the top of the Premier League after forming a brilliant partnership with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in recent seasons. The 46-year-old brought several of Arsenal’s biggest stars to the club, two of the most successful being Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.
Speaking to TNT Sports about Edu’s shock exit from the Emirates Stadium, Keown admitted he does not understand why the Brazilian has left the Premier League giants and hopes the sporting director has not left his former club for money
“It’s hard to understand,” said the expert TNT Sports. “I would never leave this job. It has to be the perfect job in football. I hope it’s not money he’s left for. He was loved at the club and he was doing an amazing job.”
Edu tripled his money on a potential new role away from Arsenal
Following the news of Edu’s departure from Arsenal, The Independent reported that Edu appears set to join Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and his network of clubs.
The Brazilian has been in talks with the Marinakis group and could now lead their recruitment drive to help with Nottingham Forest and Greek club Olympiacos, as well as Portuguese side Rio Ave.
The report claims that Edu had ambitions to become Arsenal’s chief executive, a position that the Marinakis group is willing to fulfill, while boosting his wages to more than three times his current salary at the Emirates .
The exact reason why the 46-year-old has left the north London outfit is still unclear, but he could disappoint the club’s supporters if it was for money.
Pending business? ?@martinkeown5 i @rioferdy5 discuss Edu’s ‘disappointing’ exit from Arsenal?
? @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/sjbyj9ktsL
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 6, 2024