Fiorentina has reached out to Fabio Paratici, the co-sporting director at Tottenham Hotspur, regarding a potential return to Italian football. This approach comes just over two months after Paratici resumed his position at Tottenham in October 2023, following the conclusion of a 30-month ban from football activities.
While Fiorentina has not yet made a formal approach to Tottenham regarding Paratici, sources indicate that the Serie A club has extended an offer for him to lead their football operations. This development occurs amid a challenging season for Fiorentina, currently sitting at the bottom of the Serie A table with no wins in 15 games and trailing by eight points from safety.
Paratici’s recent history with Tottenham is noteworthy. He officially returned to the club in October after his ban, which stemmed from accusations of financial misconduct during his tenure at Juventus. Initially appointed as Tottenham’s managing director of football in June 2021 by former Executive Chairman Daniel Levy, Paratici was suspended alongside ten other Juventus executives in March 2023. The suspension was later extended worldwide by FIFA, impacting his ability to work in football.
After resigning from his position at Tottenham in April 2023, following the rejection of his appeal against the ban, Paratici took on a consultancy role at the club. He advised Levy on transfer matters while waiting for the opportunity to return to a more active role. Earlier this year, he engaged in discussions with AC Milan before they appointed Igli Tare as their sporting director in May.
Fiorentina’s previous sporting director, Daniele Prade, left the club by mutual consent in November 2023 after a poor start to the season, which has led to their current predicament. The team’s struggles have heightened the urgency for a capable leader to steer their football operations.
Paratici’s potential move to Fiorentina could represent a significant shift for both parties. His previous experience at Juventus, where he spent 11 years as sporting director, saw him oversee a highly successful period that included nine Serie A titles and reaching the Champions League final twice.
The backdrop of Paratici’s return to Tottenham has been marked by substantial changes within the club. In April 2023, Vinai Venkatesham was appointed as CEO, and in the summer, Thomas Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou as head coach. The board has also seen turnover, with long-serving Executive Director Donna-Maria Cullen stepping down and Levy, after 24 years as chairman, being removed from his position.
As the January transfer window approaches, Tottenham faces critical decisions regarding player signings, especially as they seek to enhance their squad. They currently sit 13th in the Premier League and are in need of reinforcements in key areas, particularly in midfield and attack.
The situation with Fiorentina and Paratici is now one to watch closely. His role at Tottenham, alongside Johan Lange, was expected to leverage his extensive network to attract quality players to the club. Now, with a potential return to Serie A on the table, the dynamics for both clubs could shift significantly depending on his decision.
The unfolding developments will likely have implications not just for Paratici but also for Tottenham’s strategies moving forward in a pivotal transfer window.
