Andrea Berta was officially announced as Arsenal's new sporting director on Sunday, and it's fair to say that Gunners supporters are pretty excited about his arrival
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Andrea Berta and Richard Garlick
Andrea Berta (L) arrives at Arsenal with a formidable reputation(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC)
Arsenal supporters are buzzing about their club's latest hire, Andrea Berta, after discovering why he blocked two high-profile transfers during his time at Atletico Madrid. The north London side confirmed Berta's arrival as sporting director on Sunday, with the 53-year-old Italian stepping in to replace Edu, who departed in November.
Berta boasts an impressive resume from his tenure at Atletico, where he was instrumental in bringing in talents like Rodri, Jan Oblak, and Luis Suarez. However, his reputation isn't just built on securing top players - his ability to shut down deals has been just as noteworthy.
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Reports from last year revealed that he put a stop to Atletico's pursuit of both Adrien Rabiot and Boubacar Kamara due to concerns over their private lives. RMC Sport reported that Berta informed French agent Bruno Satin: "I had two conversations with Adrien Rabiot's mother and stopped negotiations immediately because she was explaining where her son should play."
Similarly, he is said to have ended Atletico's interest in Kamara - now at Aston Villa - after a visit to the player's home. There, he found Kamara casually dressed in shorts and barefoot, socialising with friends, which reportedly raised red flags about his professionalism.
Berta's keen eye for character suggests his recruitment approach at Arsenal won't just focus on talent, but also on personality and discipline. His insistence on professionalism and strong mentality could play a vital role in shaping Arsenal's future, and fans have expressed excitement over the appointment.
"[He's] definitely not a yes man, they are in short supply at the Emirates," one supporter posted on X. "Imagine if someone had stood up and said 'this is BS, we are getting players on loan now' in January, we can now just imagine."
Another fan commented: "Yep, defo not a yes man I'll give him that." A third added: "Great to hear. Can't stand talented player who ruin it by being difficult behind the scenes."
Berta
Berta vetoed two Atletico transfers after being left unimpressed with the players' private lives
However, before Arsenal fans get too carried away, it's important to recognize that Berta's transfer decisions haven't always paid off. He was behind some costly misjudgements, such as signing Joao Felix for £113million, Alvaro Morata for £58m and Diego Costa's return for £57m - only for Costa to net just 12 La Liga goals over three seasons in his second spell with the club.
He also spent £63m on Thomas Lemar and sanctioned the sales of Toby Alderweireld, Diogo Jota, and Theo Hernandez for what, in retrospect, seem like bargain prices. Despite these mixed results, Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke spoke highly of Berta's "great track record" and described him as a "great addition" to the club.
"Anyone who knows football knows Andrea is an impressive figure," Kroenke said in a statement. "He has vast knowledge of the game, a great track record, a strong network and an insatiable desire to build winning teams.
Andrea Berta
Berta oversaw several transfer mishaps, including Atletico's £63m move for Thomas Lemar
"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."
Berta himself expressed his excitement about joining Arsenal, calling it "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 re-establishing the club as a major force in European football with a passionate following around the world," he said.
Andrea Berta
He spent over a decade at Atletico(Image: David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
"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."
One of his immediate priorities will be signing a top striker, with Arsenal linked to Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen. The Gunners are expected to have substantial funds available this summer, with reinforcements planned across multiple positions.
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