Spurs part ways with their joint sporting director after a brief three-month comeback!

Fabio Paratici is set to leave Tottenham and join Fiorentina after the January transfer window, only three months after returning to the club.

Paratici originally left Spurs in April 2023 after Italy’s highest sports court rejected his appeal against a two-and-a-half-year ban. He made a comeback in October last year, returning as joint sporting director alongside Johan Lange. Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham confirmed that Paratici wished to return to Italy, stating:

“We have agreed that Fabio will return to Italy after the January transfer window, in line with his wish to move home. We thank him for his contributions and wish him well. Our management structure is resilient, and business will continue as usual.”

Paratici thanked Spurs for the opportunity and explained that the chance to join Fiorentina and return to Italy was the main reason for his decision. He also expressed his affection for the club and said he will continue to follow their progress from afar.

Although there were rumours of disagreements, his exit is purely personal. It is not yet known whether Tottenham will appoint a replacement, with the club insisting that its leadership structure is strong enough to continue smoothly. The January window also marks a change in how Spurs operate, with Daniel Levy no longer managing transfers alone and the club’s hierarchy taking a more active role.

Paratici has been well-liked at Spurs and was instrumental in several major signings, with mixed results. His successful deals included Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, and Rodrigo Bentancur, while others such as Emerson Royal and Manor Solomon did not perform as well. He will still be involved in Tottenham’s January transfer plans before leaving.

His initial departure was due to a ban linked to alleged false accounting at Juventus, but his return to Spurs came with reduced responsibilities compared to his previous tenure. At Fiorentina, he is expected to have full control over football operations.

During his time at Tottenham, Paratici delivered some successful transfers and helped the club win the Europa League, although not every signing proved successful. His final task will be overseeing the important January transfer window, including adding reinforcements such as Conor Gallagher. However, his short second spell means he will leave without a significant legacy at the club.