Fabio Paratici sends new message to Tottenham fans after 'special' return | OneFootball

Italian explains Spurs transfer role and how he will work with Thomas Frank

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Fabio Paratici has revealed he has felt the "love" of Tottenham fans all around the world over the past two years.

The Italian has returned to the club as sporting director, a job title he will share with Johan Lange as part of a revamp of Spurs' leadership structure.

Paratici was previously managing director of football at Spurs but resigned in 2023.

His 30-month ban from Italian football was extended to have worldwide effect by FIFA at the time and last month the Italian received an 18-month prison sentence to settle a false accounting case relating to his time at Juventus.

Paratici has acted as a consultant for Spurs in recent months and was involved both in the summer transfer window and in the managerial search that led to Thomas Frank's appointment.

Paratici has been appointed Spurs sporting director

PA

He has remained a popular figure among Spurs supporters and Paratici has had first-hand experience of that.

"I want to thank even the fans," Paratici said in an interview with Spurs' in-house media team.

"They make me feel really important for them. They supported me everywhere when I met them. They showed me their love and it means a lot for me. For this reason, this club is the club that is really special for me.

"Spurs fans are everywhere. Sometimes you can meet them in Rome or in Milan or in New York. They showed me really the love that they have.

"Not just in the stadium but everyone that I meet that is a Spurs fan, they come to me and says thanks and support. It means a lot for me."

With Spurs now having two sporting directors, there will be somewhat of a division of labour between the two.

Lange will be responsible for overseeing the scouting work and leading the performance departments, which includes the medical and sports science operations. Paratici's focus, meanwhile, will be more on squad building.

"My skills are more players, managing players, transfer window, loans and pathways," Paratici said.

"Together we will discuss with the coach about the recommended players. This is my job."

Although he did not have a formal role at the club during the summer, Paratici said he "worked well" with Frank during the transfer window.

The Italian is already looking ahead to January when he will play a leading role in the club's transfer business.

"We are always ready to speak about players," Paratici said.

"We work every day about scouting, insights. It's our job, it's our world, maybe it's our life even. We are always ready.

"I like this job. I love football, I love this job especially when we play every three days and there is a transfer window. It's exciting to be inside of this kind of period."