'Edu is wasted at Arsenal!'

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 31 May 2024 15:47 BST
• 4 min read

Edu Gaspar has shone in his role as Arsenal’s Sporting Director, but Brazilian journalist Julio Gomes believes he should be the president of the Brazil FA.

Edu, 46, spent four years as a player at Arsenal during the early 2000s and he re-joined the Gunners as Technical Director in 2019, before becoming the club’s first ever Sporting Director in 2022.

Since his return, Edu has played a key role in the club’s successful transfer policy over the past few years.

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Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard are among the players to have joined Arsenal under Edu’s watch, with both performing exceptionally since arriving at the Emirates Stadium.

However, Gomes believes Edu is the perfect man to lead the Brazil FA.

The Brazilian journalist appeared on The Transfers Podcast - hosted by Duncan Castles - and discussed a variety of topics, including Arsenal’s Edu.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals

“I think Edu is one of the brightest minds in Brazilian football,” Gomes admitted. “Yeah, it’s an example of how Brazil are losing not only players, but also brighter people that could be helping here.

“I mean, Edu should be the president of the Brazilian FA, in my opinion. He would bring modernization and more professionalism to the Brazilian’s most important entity regarding football.

“But, it’s obviously a political thing. It doesn’t work like that. It will never happen, probably.”

Chelsea want Pedro Lima

In other Brazilian football news, Chelsea face paying the full release clause for Sport Club do Recife right back Pedro Lima, The Transfers Podcast understands.

The two clubs are still apart in negotiations for the 17-year-old, while Club Recife president Yuri Romao was in the United Kingdom this week in order to discuss a transfer with the Blues.

In those conversations, Chelsea offered a guaranteed fee of €7 million with bonuses of a further €3m.

As Lima does not yet qualify for a UK work permit, Chelsea's sporting directors have proposed a development path that will see the teenager start his European career at French feeder club RC Strasbourg.

However, despite talks, Sport Recife have not agreed to sell Lima as they are holding out for his full release clause of €12.1 million.

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