ARSENAL fans have been crying out for an experienced, ready-made figure to lead the club to major trophies and continental domination.
That elite striker still eludes them, but for now, they have the next best thing: a man with a proven record of getting those sorts of players through the door for instant success.
Andrea Berta puts pen to paper on a deal of his ownGetty
Thomas Lemar ranks among Berta’s less succesful buysAFP – Getty
Berta’s time at Atletico Madrid ended in disappointment as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Man CityGetty
Meet Andrea Berta – the 53-year-old Italian businessman turned transfer guru who has been tasked with just that in his new role of sporting director at the Emirates.
He has big shoes to fill. His predecessor Edu worked tirelessly with manager Mikel Arteta to transform the Gunners into Prem title challengers through astute recruitment during his two-year spell in the role, having initially arrived as technical director in July 2019.
The next step is clear: to build on that progress and deliver the Holy Grail of English football back to North London, ending their 21-year wait for a league title.
And in Berta, Arsenal have – on paper – the ideal man for the job.
His 12-year affiliation with Atletico Madrid alongside Diego Simeone was littered with overachievement and success on and off the pitch, his dealings in the transfer market the envy of the European heavyweights, developing a reputation as one of the most football-savy operators on the continent before being appointed sporting director in 2017.
In the eight years that followed, Atletico won La Liga in 2021, as well as the Europa League and Uefa Super Cup in 2018, having also reached two Champions League finals in 2014 and 2016.
Arsenal announce Andrea Berta appointment
ARSENAL unveiled Andrea Berta as their new sporting director with the Italian vowing to “shape a successful future with a great team” at the Gunners.
Berta, 53, replaces former sporting director Edu following his resignation last November, with the Brazilian set to take up a new role in Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ multi-club model.
Ahead of a crucial summer for Mikel Arteta’s men, Berta is now tasked with bringing an elite No.9 to the Emirates, as well as negotiating contract renewals for key stars as Arsenal bid to win a first Prem title since 2004.
And Berta – who left a similar post at Atletico Madrid in January – said: “I am thrilled to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for the club.
“I have watched with great interest the way Arsenal has evolved in recent years and I have admired the hard work that has gone into reestablishing the club as a major force in European football with a passionate following around the world.
“The club has great values and a rich history, and I am looking forward to playing my part in shaping a successful future with a great team.
“I cannot wait to get started in my new role and I am really looking forward to experiencing my first game at Emirates Stadium together with our supporters.”
Co-owner Josh Kroenke added: “Anyone who knows football knows Andrea is an impressive figure. He has vast knowledge of the game, a great track record, a strong network and an insatiable desire to build winning teams.
“Andrea will be a great addition to our club. He understands our values and what we stand for and we have no doubt he will help us push on and take the next steps in our bid to win major trophies.
“We undertook a thorough recruitment process and we were hugely impressed with the level of all the other candidates, but it was Andrea’s experience and the success he has enjoyed that stood out.
“We are really looking forward to working together and welcoming him into the Arsenal family.”
During that time, Simeone would often hail Berta as one of his most trusted and influential advisors, inviting him on occasion into the dressing room for big games.
Following three weeks of talks, it was also Berta that convinced Simeone not to leave the club in 2016 after a gut-wrenching Champions League final defeat on penalties to rivals Real Madrid, urging the Argentine to rebuild and go again.
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Berta has been around the block to develop that sort of aura, starting in the financial sector for one of Italy’s largest banks, balancing his day job with a passion for football.
His eye for assembling talented squads was honed at numerous amateur clubs in Brescia before being taken under the wing of Tommaso Ghirardi as a sporting director at fourth-tier side Carpenedolo in his mid-twenties, with further experiences in the same role at Parma and Genoa.
By the time he met Atletico CEO Angel Gil Marin through mutual contact and super agent Jorge Mendes in 2013, Berta’s knowledge and success in the Italian market was attracting attention – enough for Marin to offer him a role as an international scout a year later.
It is no wonder he was also recently linked to the likes of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and AC Milan.
Berta’s departure from Atletico in January can be linked to the club’s desire to modernise and revamp their recruitment process and overall board structure.
Power and authority was something Berta had become accustomed to at Atletico, often a leading voice on recruitment and player sales over informal dinner dates with Marin and Simeone at local restaurants, taking a hands-on approach in certain complex, big-money deals thanks to his relationships with key agents.
That is not to say Berta is not a team player. He would take a step back when needed, willing to work closely and take the lead from Simeone, Marin and managing director Carlos Bucero, hesitant to act as a lone wolf like famed sporting director Monchi at Sevilla and now Aston Villa.
This will be key for Arteta, wanting Berta to seamlessly slip into a leadership group that includes managing director Richard Garlick, executive vice-chair Tim Lewis, co-owners Stan and Josh Kroenke, director of football operations James King and current interim sporting director Jason Ayto.
Berta attracted some huge names to MadridGetty
Berta is not one for the limelight, very rarely speaking in public or taking credit for successes on and off the pitch, preferring to let his work do the talking behind closed doors.
His fingerprints were all over the impressive deals for Antoine Griezmann and Jan Oblak in 2014, Kieran Trippier in 2019 and Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher last summer, as well as profitable sales of the likes of Rodri to Manchester City and Thomas Partey to Arsenal.
There have been some failures. The £113m paid for Joao Felix in 2019 and the £60m for Thomas Lemar in 2018. But ultimately, Berta seems to get more right than wrong.
He is renowned for his calm, measured, analytical approach under pressure. It is why it was a shock to see him entangled in a pitchside scuffle with Man City doctor Max Sala after a feisty Champions League quarter final tie in April 2022.
The full scope of Berta’s role remains unknown. Edu was also granted authority of the Arsenal women’s team, as well as integrating academy stars to the first team.
For now, Berta has the unenviable task of landing an elite No.9 this summer, raising funds through sales and extending the contracts of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel and William Saliba.
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