Arsenal's "dream team" separated after Mikel Arteta's toast and Stan Kroenke wielded the axe.
Following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in August 2020, Raul Sanllehi left Arsenal and became the director general of Real Zaragoza in June 2021.
Raul Sanllehi, Arsenal's former head of football, has publicly apologized over how his time in charge of the Premier League club ended. Sanllehi, a former Barcelona executive, was appointed as Arsenal's head of football relations in February 2018, just two months before Arsene Wenger's departure was announced. Six months later, the administrator was promoted to replace CEO Ivan Gazidis, who also left to join AC Milan.
Following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Arsenal decided to streamline their operational team, and Sanllehi was fired in August 2020. His duties were taken over by managing director Vinai Venkatesham, who was promoted to CEO after a decade of service.
Following the hiring of Mikel Arteta as coach, Sanllehi asserted he assembled his "dream team" in December 2019. Technical director Edu, head of football operations Huss Fahmy, and academy manager Per Mertesacker were also part of that unit. However, Sanllehi's dream turned into a nightmare in March 2020, when the pandemic forced Arsenal to drastically alter their operational structure. He was forced to lay off 55 people before being fired five months later.
Sanllehi has since returned to football, taking over as director general of Real Zaragoza in June 2021. Zaragoza currently plays in Spain's second division. Sanllehi was eager to discuss Zaragoza with The Athletic, but he did open up about his time at Arsenal. "I used to love it at Arsenal. "You can't imagine - the people in the club, the club's history," Sanllehi said. "I felt like I was on top of the world there." I adore the Kroenkes, the owners. However, the previous ten months were abysmal. I had to fire 55 people without realizing I was the 56th."
"I don't feel betrayed by the Kroenkes," Sanllehi added. The Kroenkes had the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Rapids, and all of a sudden, none of them could play.
"You had to pay the salaries anyway." You did not have guaranteed revenue from broadcasting. They panicked, but it was a logical panic, just as the rest of the world panicked.
"I'm sure I'd still be here without Covid."
"It's hilarious now, but I recall having dinner with the four guys in December 2019: Mikel Arteta, Edu, Huss Fahmy, and Per Mertesacker."
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