Edu
Edu resigned as Arsenal's sporting director in November
Arsenal are set to appoint Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, with the Italian set to replace Edu after he resigned from the role in November.
Edu left the club in order to take on a new role overseeing the clubs owned by Evangelos Marinakis, which includes Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Ave. Berta, meanwhile, previously spent 12 years at Atletico Madrid.
He initially joined the club as their technical director in 2013 before becoming their sporting director in 2017. However, he left Atletico in January and is now set to return to football with Arsenal.
According to a report from the Athletic, Berta has reached an agreement with the Gunners after prioritising a move to the Emirates over several other 'top-level' roles elsewhere. Arsenal are said to have considered multiple candidates for the role before settling on Berta.
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Jason Ayto, who previously worked as Edu's assistant, had been serving as Arsenal's interim sporting director and was among the options considered. However, the club have decided to go with a more experienced replacement in Berta.
The report states that Berta has been studying English in London in preparation for the move and Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was involved in the appointment process along with managing director Richard Garlick, executive vice-chair Tim Lewis and co-chairman Josh Kroenke.
When asked about the appointment process last month, Arteta said: "Our plan is to nail the process that we believe is the best to try to find the person that is the best one for the moment that Arsenal is in right now. That's what the club is trying to do."
Andrea Berta
Andrea Berta is set to become Arsenal's new sporting director
Before his stint at Atletico, Berta was the sporting director at Italian clubs Genoa, Parma and AC Carpenedolo after previously working in banking. According to reports from Spain, Berta's departure from Atletico was the result of a power struggle following the appointment of Carlos Bucero as their director of football.
Following his exit, Atletico president Enrique Cerezo confirmed that Berta would not be replaced, with Bucero taking on his duties. When asked if the club were searching for a new sporting director, Cerezo said: "In principle not, because Carlos Bucero is there. But I want to highlight the good work, the great work and the great technical work of Andrea Berta during all these years at Atletico."
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