Fabio Paratici to leave Tottenham only three months after returning

Paratici first joined Tottenham in June 2021 as the managing director of football but resigned in April 2023 after being banned for alleged financial malpractice while at Juventus. Paratici remained close to Tottenham’s former chairman Daniel Levy and, after an appeal, he was allowed to continue advising the club as a consultant.

Despite Levy’s removal as chairman in September, Paratici formally returned to Spurs as co-sporting director alongside Lange in October as part of what the club called a “new men’s football leadership structure”.

The changes were instigated by Tottenham’s new chief executive, Vinai Venkatesham, who arrived last summer and took over Levy’s role as the club’s head of day-to-day football operations. Venkatesham said Lange focused more on scouting, analysis and the academy while Paratici prioritised players, transfers and loans.

Paratici can lay claim to some of Tottenham’s better signings in the past few years, such as Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur and Destiny Udogie, but the squad has declined overall and this forgettable second stint will be viewed as a mistake.

Asked about Paratici’s future this month, Frank said: “We’re paying his wage, he’s working very hard.” Tottenham are set to complete a £35million move for Conor Gallagher after the midfielder passed his medical and they are finalising a £13million move for Santos’ 19-year-old left back Souza. Among the departures have been Brennan Johnson, who was sold to Crystal Palace, and Manor Solomon, who joined Paratici’s next club, Fiorentina, on loan.

On Paratici’s departure, Venkatesham said: “We have agreed that Fabio will return to Italy after the conclusion of the January transfer window, in line with his wish to move back home. We thank Fabio for his contribution to the club and wish him well for the future. Our management structure is designed to be resilient to personnel changes, and it will be business as usual moving forward.”

Paratici said: “I want to thank Vinai and the board of Tottenham Hotspur for accommodating my desire to return to Italy and join Fiorentina. I have loved my time at the club, however this opportunity, together with the need to be based in my homeland, has led me to this decision.”

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