ROME/LONDON: Franco Baldini has left Roma and and thus opened up a path back into English football as technical director of Tottenham.

Unlike many previous experiments with the role in the Premier League this would one favoured by manager Andre Villas-Boas to provide an intermediary between coaching staff and the board – as when he worked at Porto and Internazionale under Jose Mourinho.

Baldini, who was assistant to Fabio Capello when the Italian was England manager, has been strongly linked with a move to White Hart Lane.

A Roma statement confirmed that they had “consensually ended the professional relationship” with Baldini, who was the club’s general manager.

Baldini said: “I want to thank AS Roma’s ownership for the opportunity to work together. I have enjoyed my time inRomeand wish the best to the club, the players and fans.”

Tottenham’s previous experience of the system was unhappy with then manager Martin Jol clashing with director of football Damien Comolli over transfer targets.

Last month Villas-Boas said this need not be the case. He added: “It will help the club moving forward. It’s something with which I am used to working.

“Since my first day I told the club that it’s somebody who is extremely important in my view to the structure.”

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