Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo had the opportunity to engage in a conversation with Edu after their narrow 1-0 defeat to Everton. Edu, who was present at the City Ground as a guest, observed the match alongside Forest’s management team. Despite the speculation surrounding Edu’s involvement with the club, it is understood that no formal agreement has been reached, and any announcement regarding his role is unlikely before the summer.
Nuno Espirito Santo said: “I had the chance to be with him (Edu) after the game. We speak, the president (Marinakis), all the scouting team. It was after the game, in a normal situation. We speak with the president, we speak with everybody.”
Edu, who returned to Arsenal in 2019 in a behind-the-scenes capacity, initially served as the technical director before his role evolved into that of a sporting director three years later. During his tenure, Edu established a strong working relationship with Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, contributing significantly to the club’s resurgence as Premier League title contenders. However, Edu’s departure from Arsenal was announced in November, prompting speculation about his next career move.
Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, who also oversees a conglomerate of clubs including Greek giants Olympiacos and Portuguese side Rio Ave, has expressed interest in expanding his football ventures to Brazil. Marinakis shared his thoughts on potentially partnering with Edu for a global project.
Marinakis said: “Edu was a very good player and also a very good sporting and technical director. I have a lot of respect for him. The results we saw over the years at Arsenal were very good and he has done an excellent job at Arsenal. What I can say is that I would like to cooperate with him on a much bigger project, a global project. I’m optimistic that in case all this goes ahead, it will be another successful venture for both of us. I’m very optimistic about it, but we need to see how this will be developed and will be finalised, if and when time allows.”
As Nottingham Forest continues its impressive campaign, with hopes of securing a spot in the Champions League next season, the potential addition of Edu to their ranks could further bolster their ambitions. Forest supporters eagerly await any developments regarding Edu’s involvement, as it could signal a significant step forward for the club’s future.
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