Evangelos Marinakis has revealed his plans for ex-Arsenal sporting director Edu, who is set to join Nottingham Forest and the Greek owner's club network following his shock departure from the Emirates last month.
As Mail Sport's Sami Mokbel exclusively revealed in November, former Gunners midfielder Edu – who returned to the north London team in July 2019 as the club's first technical director and was later promoted to sporting director – left his position after five years after talks with Arsenal's hierarchy.
It is now understood that Edu, 46, has agreed a deal to work with Marinakis and his global portfolio of clubs, including Greece's Olympiacos and Portugal's Rio Ave, as well as Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Edu is widely credited with his excellent work at Arsenal and has played a crucial role in the rebuilding of the club under manager Mikel Arteta, whose team currently sit third in the Premier League after back-to-back campaigns challenging Manchester City for the title.
Marinakis, 57, spoke of his ambition to transform Forest into a top-six club in English football and praised Edu as sporting director and admitted he is 'very optimistic' about the prospect of working with him.
“Edu was a very good player and also a very good sporting and technical director,” the Greek told Sky Sports. 'I have a lot of respect for him.
“The results we have seen at Arsenal over the years have been very good and he has done an excellent job at Arsenal.
'What I can say is that I would like to work with him on a much bigger project, a global project. I'm optimistic that if this all goes through, it will be another successful venture for both of us.
“I'm very optimistic about it, but we have to see how this will be developed and completed, if and when time allows.”
Edu won six trophies with Arsenal during his playing career, including two Premier League titles – in 2002 and 2004.
Since returning to the club as director, Edu has witnessed one FA Cup win, with Arsenal also winning the Community Shield twice.
The Brazilian has previously expressed his pride at how the culture at Arsenal has improved since his return to the club, with the Gunners among the favorites to top the Premier League behind leaders Liverpool this season.
Edu once said in an interview that he was proud to have supported Arteta in 'changing the way people see our club and the vision people have of Arsenal compared to the past.'
During the interview he said: 'I want to win in the best possible way. If we win the trophy it will be because we did it the right way. Just ask any Arsenal fan what he thinks about that.'
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have enjoyed a fruitful start to the season after back-to-back campaigns battling for Premier League survival.
Despite losing 3-0 to Manchester City on Wednesday, Nuno Espirito Santo is still sixth in the top flight, with only Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland scoring more than the in-form Forest No 9 Chris Wood, who has already scored nine has scored goals in fourteen games.
Mail Sport reported two weeks ago that Marinakis is interested in adding iconic Brazilian side Vasco da Gama to his club roster.
It is believed that initial talks over a potential deal, which would see Marinakis acquire a controlling stake in the South American club, are underway but are still far from being completed.
Edu, who played for Vasco's domestic rivals Corinthians, would likely play an influential role at Vasco if the takeover is successful.
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