Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest, is reportedly interested in recruiting Edu Gaspar from Arsenal. Edu has gained a reputation in the football executive world for his exceptional work as Arsenal’s Sporting Director, contributing to the club’s recent success. Marinakis is said to have grand plans for Edu, envisioning him as a CEO specializing in international football across all of his football clubs.
Marinakis currently owns three football clubs in Europe: Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos in Greece, and Rio Ave in Portugal. He dreams of having Edu as his right-hand man in the sports sector, overseeing his various ventures. Edu’s role at Arsenal has been instrumental in the club’s resurgence, with his strategic signings playing a significant role in shaping a title-challenging team under manager Mikel Arteta.
Some of Edu’s notable acquisitions for Arsenal include William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Odegaard, and Ben White. He also managed to secure Gabriel Martinelli for a bargain price of £6 million from a Brazilian fourth-tier club. Edu’s meticulous approach to player recruitment is evident in his use of 180-page dossiers on potential signings.
Before joining Arsenal, Edu was appointed as the club’s Technical Director in 2019 and was later promoted to Sporting Director in 2022, becoming the first person to hold that position at Arsenal. Prior to his time at Arsenal, he worked as a Team Coordinator for the Brazilian Football Association and served as an adviser for the Iranian national team. He also spent five years as the Director of Football at Corinthians in Brazil after retiring as a player in 2011.
In addition to his professional achievements, Edu is also known for his personal life. Despite keeping their relationship private, it is known that Edu is in a partnership with Tolami Benson. Martin Odegaard, another Arsenal player, is in a relationship with Helene Spilling, a professional dancer from Norway. Kai Havertz’s partner, Sophie Weber, is a model and social media influencer. Ben White’s partner, Milly White, is a model, and the couple got engaged in 2022 before getting married in May the following year. Leandro Trossard is married to Laura Trossard Hilven, and Declan Rice has been in a relationship with Lauren Fryer since 2015. Aaron Ramsdale’s partner, Georgina Ramsdale, works as a flight attendant, and the couple got married in June 2022.
As Marinakis sets his sights on bringing Edu Gaspar to Nottingham Forest, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal can retain their influential Sporting Director. Edu’s expertise and strategic approach to player recruitment have undoubtedly played a crucial role in Arsenal’s recent success, and his potential departure could have significant implications for the club’s future.