Andrea Berta has chosen to develop into the brand new sporting director of Arsenal amid curiosity from Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and different high golf equipment – however the probability to work at Arsenal and within the Premier League proved too good a possibility to show down.
Arsenal have held an intensive course of and interviewed plenty of candidates, however Berta was the excellent selection.
The Italian, who was obtainable from January after 12 years within the function at Atletico Madrid, was priming for a place within the Premier League by taking English classes in London.
Edu left his function as Arsenal sporting director in November
United thought of him as a successor for Dan Ashworth and PSG have been admirers of his potential to purchase and promote remarkably properly.
Berta, nevertheless, established himself because the main candidate in Arsenal’s thorough course of to switch Edu, who resigned in November.
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Paul Merson returns to his former membership to talk to Mikel Arteta forward of their conflict towards Chelsea. The Arsenal boss discusses the membership’s tradition and opens up on the departure of their technical sporting director Edu
The 53-year-old, who’s credited as being a central determine in Atleti’s success, is a shrewd operator within the switch market and is esteemed round Europe not just for his potential to make a big revenue on gamers, however to additionally punch above rivals with greater sources.
Extremely rated Berta beneath stress to stay as much as billing at Arsenal
Sky Sports activities’ Peter Smith:
“Andrea Berta arrives from Atletico Madrid with an exciting reputation for Arsenal supporters in the transfer market. He also has a ringing endorsement from those he has done deals with, praised for his meticulous approach but also the way he conducts business.
“The person who signed Rodri, Antoine Griezmann and Jan Oblak in discount offers – and offered two of these three on at a considerable revenue – can be anticipated to stay as much as that billing in north London.
Antoine Griezmann has been an enormous success since Berta first introduced the France ahead to Madrid greater than a decade in the past
“The pressure will be on to deliver a summer window which brings an out-and-out number nine and a midfield refresh to allow Mikel Arteta’s team to take the final step in their pursuit of the Premier League title.
“Edu, Berta’s predecessor, overhauled the membership with Arteta throughout his five-year spell on the helm. Now, with a proficient younger squad, together with a depth of defensive choices, the ending touches have to be utilized to show Arsenal into champions.
“Those missing pieces won’t be easy to find, with the striker market limited and expensive, and rivals also on the lookout for a ball-playing No 6. The latter will be a key position to address should Jorginho and Thomas Partey leave at the end of their current contracts, as expected. A back-up in goal for David Raya, with Neto only on loan from Bournemouth, will also be a requirement.
“There may even be inside contracts to juggle, with star gamers Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes having simply two years on their present phrases by this summer time, and children Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri pushing to be rewarded for his or her spectacular performances this season.
“A source who has worked with Berta believes he will prove to be a shrewd appointment for Arsenal. And if he can replicate his title-winning project at Atletico with the Gunners, his acquisition could be one of their best signings of all.”
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Miguel Delaney, chief soccer author at The Impartial, takes a more in-depth take a look at Edu’s exit at Arsenal and what it might imply for Mikel Arteta
Berta’s bargain-buys at Atletico Madrid
Antoine Griezmann – signed from Actual Sociedad for £24.8m in 2014. Bought to Barcelona in 2019 for £103m. Purchased again in 2021 for £16.5m
Rodri – signed from Villarreal for £16.5m in 2018 after which offered on to Manchester Metropolis in 2019 for £62.5m.
Luis Suarez – signed from Barcelona in 2020 for £5.5m
Jan Oblak – signed from Benfica in 2014 for £13m
Marcos Llorente – signed from Actual Madrid in 2019 for £35m
Kieran Trippier – signed from Tottenham in 2019 for £20m
Jose Gimenez – signed from Danubio for 995,000 Euros
Stefan Savic – signed from Fiorentina for 12m Euros
And he additionally splashed out on…
Joao Felix – signed from Benfica for £113m in 2019
Joao Felix joined Atleti from Benfica for £113m in 2019
Julian Alvarez – signed from Man Metropolis for £82m in 2024
Thomas Lemar – signed from Monaco for £63.2m in 2018
Diego Costa – signed from Chelsea for £57m in 2017
