Tottenham’s co-sporting director Fabio Paratici will leave the club to join Fiorentina at the end of the January transfer window, three months after returning to the club.
The Italian was originally due to leave Spurs in April 2023 after his appeal against his two-and-a-half year ban was rejected by Italy’s Supreme Court of Sport, but he returned to north London in October last year to work with current sporting director Johan Lange.
Paratici is due to leave Tottenham Hotspur Stadium again at the end of January, with CEO Vinay Venkatesham explaining that the Italian executive had expressed his desire to return to his home country.
“In line with Fabio’s wishes to return to his home country, we have agreed to return to Italy at the end of the January transfer window,” Venkatesham said.
“We would like to thank Fabio for his contribution to the club and wish him all the best for his future endeavors. Our management structure is designed to be flexible in responding to personnel changes and we will continue to operate as usual.”
“I would like to thank Coach Vinay and the Tottenham Hotspur board for accepting my wish to return to Italy and join Fiorentina,” Paratici said.
“I loved my time at the club, but this opportunity and the need to be based in my home country led me to this decision.
“Spurs is a club very dear to my heart. There are great people working at Spurs who are as passionate about this project as I am and want to bring it lasting success. I believe they will achieve that and I will be watching closely from Italy.”
Analysis: No surprise in the exit – and no clear successor
Michael Bridge on Sky Sports News:
“It’s not surprising at all. There were rumors and talks about him returning to Italy, this was his second spell as sporting director, but I understand that this is a personal decision.”
“There are whispers about a potential disagreement, but that is not the case. Another question is whether there will be a replacement for him, but it is not certain that there will be a replacement.
“If you look at this statement, it speaks to the resilience of our management structure and how business as usual will continue.
“Tottenham have changed a lot in this period. It’s the first time in 25 years that Daniel Levy hasn’t signed a cheque, and now the whole class has joined in.
“Paratisi is a very popular figure at Spurs, which is why he was recalled and has been the center of a number of deals.
“Many of them have done well, but there are others who have not done well, such as Emerson Royal and Manar Solomon. “There have been ups and downs, but he will continue to be part of Spurs’ transfer business during this period.
“He’s going to play a pretty important role. One of the reasons why he was so well-liked at Spurs is because his contact book is like the yellow pages. He leaves on very good terms.”
Paratici leaves Spurs without making a lasting mark
David Richardson of Sky Sports:
Why has Fabio Paratici left Tottenham less than four months after rejoining a club in the Serie A relegation zone?
Paratici’s initial stint as managing director at Spurs lasted just under two years, after he resigned after losing an appeal in Italy against a 30-month suspension as punishment for his role in the accounting fraud scandal at Juventus.
However, he returned to the Premier League club as sporting director alongside Johan Lange, who was promoted from technical director in October, under CEO Vinay Venkatesham.
Paratici will reportedly have complete control over football affairs at Fiorentina, but his position at Spurs has declined in the post-Daniel Levy era compared to the first period when he oversaw the appointments of Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.
Nuno was sacked less than four months later and Conte, who had led the club to Champions League qualification, followed suit after publicly criticizing the club for not winning enough trophies.
Paratici’s work in the transfer market has been mostly successful with Spurs. Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrygo Bentancur are good additions, and last season’s Europa League victory was built on the performances of Guglielmo Vicario, Pedro Polo, James Maddison and Micky van de Ven.
Players like Richarlison and Yves Bissouma have not reached the same heights.
Paratici’s final act at Spurs will lead them through a crucial January period at a time when they need reinforcements and some fans are already tired of Thomas Frank’s approach. Conor Gallagher will bring tenacity and experience to the midfield, but Paratici’s short stay at the club means he has not left a lasting legacy.
Gallagher completes medical ahead of £34m move
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As Tottenham Hotspur move closer to signing Conor Gallagher, we take a look at the English midfielder’s top five goals in the Premier League
Conor Gallagher has completed a medical at Tottenham ahead of signing his £34m move from Atletico Madrid.
Gallagher will pen a five-and-a-half year contract at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Elsewhere, members of Thomas Frank’s first team are currently not allowed to leave the club.
Matthijs Tell has interest from Paris FC and Roma’s Radu Dragusin, but they remain part of Frank’s plans.
Spurs have also signed left-back Souza from Santos in a £13m deal. The 19-year-old was brought in to provide cover and competition for Destiny Udogie.
