Martin Zubimendi with Andrea Berta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal’s headline-grabbing summer transfer window included the £55.8 million capture of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, but a new report suggests the Spaniard was not the first choice of the club’s incoming sporting director Andrea Berta.
According to James McNicholas of The Athletic, the deal for Zubimendi was largely brokered by former sporting director Edu and interim director Jason Ayto before Berta officially took charge in March 2025.
While Berta has since backed the signing, the report reveals that the Italian had other candidates in mind for Arsenal’s crucial No.6 role had he been in position earlier. “The framework of this deal was agreed before Berta joined the club. Had he been in situ earlier, there were other candidates for the No.6 role he favoured,” McNicholas wrote.
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Berta, who previously spent 12 years at Atlético Madrid, has a reputation for shrewd recruitment and a preference for players offering both long-term value and immediate quality. Though the report does not identify the alternative targets he had considered, his strategic vision was reflected in other Arsenal acquisitions, including 21-year-old defender Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia. Signed for £13.1 million, Mosquera was a player Berta had monitored during his time in Spain.
Martin Zubimendi
Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi (Image credit: Getty Images)
Despite his initial preference for a different profile of midfielder, Berta has embraced Zubimendi’s arrival, with the 26-year-old already impressing in pre-season under Mikel Arteta. Zubimendi’s composure on the ball and ability to dictate tempo fit Arsenal’s tactical framework, though questions remain about whether his lack of elite athleticism could limit him against top opposition.
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Berta’s influence was more evident in other summer business, most notably the £55.5 million signing of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres. The report notes that the sporting director was instrumental in pushing that deal through, highlighting his ability to persuade Arteta and the recruitment team to back his vision. “On Gyokeres, Berta got his man,” McNicholas observed.
The Italian’s broader approach at Arsenal is aimed at striking a balance between “win now” signings such as Gyökeres and longer-term investments like Mosquera. However, with the club spending around £297 million on eight new players while generating only £32.5 million from sales, Berta will face pressure to improve Arsenal’s player trading model in future windows to ensure financial sustainability.
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