Edu’s Arsenal exit explained: transfer trouble and the Joorabchian connection | Ed Aarons

Director’s decision to leave Emirates to join the Marinakis setup raised eyebrows but the club dynamic had changed

Evangelos Marinakis is no stranger to acquiring footballers but the Nottingham Forest owner was an interested observer at a different kind of auction last month. The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale at Newmarket was particularly busy for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing group, with the renowned football agent shelling out more than £8m on three signings – including £4.6m on a filly produced by the great Frankel and the 2018 Royal Ascot winner AlJazzi. “God, I hope we haven’t bought a dud,” Joorabchian commented to the Racing Post this week on his record-breaking spending spree.

Those purchases took Amo Racing’s outlay this year to more than £24m for the group fronted by Joorabchian, who is perhaps best known for his role as representing Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano for their controversial moves to West Ham. The 53-year-old has made no secret of his desire to make an impact in the sport of kings and lists a member of the Qatari royal family as one of the investors in Amo Racing. It remains to be seen whether Marinakis plans to follow suit. After he was spotted with Joorabchian at June’s prestigious Goffs London Sale, the Greek shipping magnate said he was not part of the investment group. “No, I’m just here to enjoy the day,” he said.