In February of this year, Thomas Tuchel took his team and staff to the Italian restaurant Grappelli, a five-minute drive from the Cobham training ground in Surrey. It was to thank them for their efforts before the Carabao Cup final later that month and Granovskaia was invited. Wizard David Redfearn was hired as entertainment for Wednesday afternoon meeting. He posed for a photo with Tuchel and Granovskaia sitting next to each other, and posted it on his social media channels. “First Lady of Football” Marina Granofskaya is ready to leave her role as manager at Chelsea Look for them now but they do not exist. Why they were deleted, we can not say for sure, although it is indicative of the image that Granovskaia created for itself – one that said that it works only in the shadows. True to this reputation, the woman who was neither seen nor heard while running one of the most successful clubs in the world, now seems to be disappearing. As director since 2013, Granovskaia is about to leave Chelsea without ever having given a single newspaper interview and without relying on reporters who regularly cover her team. Instead, she lived and died with her decisions, using the club’s website to present her work. This was the one and only portal of publicity of the 47-year-old Russian-Canadian and the collection of images says it all. He sat next to Mauricio Sari on his appointment in 2018. Next to Frank Lampard in 2019. Next to Tuhel in early 2021 and again five months later when he agreed to an extension after winning the Champions League. The Russian-Canadian posed next to manager Thomas Tuchel when he signed his agreements He sat down with Mauricio Sari (left) on his appointment in 2018 and Frank Lampard (right) in 2019 He posed with the players who signed contracts with the club. Like Romelu Lukaku on his return to Chelsea for ,5 97.5 million. Such as Mason Mount, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta, Reece James, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N’Golo Kante and countless others whose transactions he oversaw. Her duties did not stop in the men’s team either, as one could see her holding the Chelsea jersey next to Sam Kerr during her signing in 2019. As a trusted ally of Roman Abramovich – a longtime senior adviser with his eyes and ears on the ground – the Russian owner valued her anonymity and trusted her to make decisions. Granovskaia, a graduate of Moscow State University, had no background in football, but became the top lady of the English match. Some jobs were good, such as the 89 89million he negotiated for Eden Hazard when he moved to Real Madrid, despite having only one year on his contract with Chelsea. Some were not as good as that costly re-signing of Lukaku, who is now on the verge of returning to Inter on loan. The 47-year-old was a trusted ally of former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich He was seen with the players who signed contracts with the club such as Romelou Loukakou (left) She appeared to be holding the Chelsea shirt next to Sam Kerr (left) when she signed in 2019 However, the loss of Granovskaia will be felt by Chelsea after so long under its rule. This is an official who just last year was named Best Director of Clubs in European Football at an awards night in Italy, as fans boasted that she was their “queen”. They felt safe with her, considering that he was the one who could bring a record 60 60 million to a player like Oscar when the Chinese Super League was booming. The time of the news of her departure, in the middle of the transfer period, is not convenient. But it could be a clear break for a club now operating under new ownership, and as respectful as it is, Granovskaia’s well-known relationship with Abramovich would always be a complicated and awkward link for Chelsea if it were to stay. Her departure is a clear break for a club now under new ownership (photo by Todd Boehly) Granovskaia approves sale of Petr Cech (right) to direct rival Arsenal in 2015 In the past, the agents were reluctant to talk about Granovskaia when asked to contribute to the Chelsea manager’s profile. They did not want to disturb the strong woman who values her privacy and spoke only anonymously, praising her direct style in contract discussions. They admired her sincerity and felt that she was a woman of her word. Like how Petr Cech was allowed to leave Chelsea for Arsenal in 2015. It was agreed that if an offer of. 10 million came, the Czech would be granted his transfer. Although he was a direct opponent in responding to this assessment, he approved the sale, while others may have moved the goalposts slowly. Granovskaia spent so much of her time at Chelsea in the shadows where she liked. Her silence only reinforced the idea that she was a hard-working negotiator behind the scenes to improve the club. Chelsea now seem to have a new direction – a direction in which to navigate these murky waters of contract negotiations without its shark.
