Tottenham Hotspur’s co-sporting director Fabio Paratici is set to complete a move to Fiorentina at the start of February, once the January transfer window has closed.
The Athletic reported on December 21 that Fiorentina had approached Paratici about a surprise return to Italy, just over two months after his reappointment at Spurs.
Paratici is to continue his role at Spurs during the winter window, which closes for English clubs on Monday, February 2 at 7pm GMT, before moving to Fiorentina to head up their football operations.
The 53-year-old has been involved in what is expected to be Tottenham’s first incoming of the winter window, the signing of Brazilian left-back Souza from Santos. Spurs have agreed a fee with the Brazilian club for the teenager.
Personal reasons are believed to be a factor in the timing of Paratici’s decision to leave Spurs so soon after his return.
Paratici only officially resumed working for Spurs in October following the end of his 30-month ban from football activity, taking up a role alongside Johan Lange as co-sporting director. He was formerly Tottenham’s managing director of football from June 2021, having been appointed by former Executive Chairman Daniel Levy.
Paratici was one of 11 former Juventus executives banned from Italian football after being accused of financial malpractice, and this suspension was extended worldwide by FIFA in March 2023. The ban related to the inflation of transfer fees for accounting purposes during his time at Juventus.
The Italian officially resigned from his role at Tottenham in April 2023 following the rejection of his appeal against his worldwide ban, which was partially reduced, enabling him to work in football in a reduced capacity. During the interim period, he worked on a consultancy basis for Spurs, advising Levy and the club on transfers.
Earlier this year, Paratici held talks with AC Milan before they appointed Igli Tare as sporting director in May.
Fiorentina’s former sporting director Daniele Prade left by mutual agreement in November following a poor start to the season and they are yet to replace him. They are currently 18th in Serie A, with just two wins from 20 league games this season.
Paratici’s return was the most recent high-profile development in a year of change at Tottenham, with Vinai Venkatesham appointed as CEO in April and Thomas Frank replacing Ange Postecoglou as head coach in the summer. The same month, long-serving Executive Director Donna-Maria Cullen stepped down from her position on the board, and in September, Levy was removed as Spurs chairman after 24 years at the helm of the club.
Paratici spent 11 years as Juventus’ sporting director prior to his first spell at Spurs, overseeing one of the most successful periods in the Italian club’s history, winning nine Serie A titles and reaching the Champions League final twice.