Learn about Arsenal’s top target for their new sporting director, Andrea Berta – including his best signings.
Arsenal are reportedly closing in on Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, with discussions already at an advanced stage, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Gunners are looking to replace Edu Gaspar, who resigned in November, and Berta has emerged as the leading candidate for the role.
Berta is best known for his work at Atletico Madrid, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the squad over the past decade.
His ability to build competitive teams on a limited budget, coupled with his impressive track record in recruitment, makes him an attractive option for Arsenal as they look to take the next step in their evolution under Mikel Arteta.
🚨🔴⚪️ Understand Andrea Berta is now the top candidate to become new Arsenal director in order to replace Edu.
Discussions already took place, Berta left Atlético after building the team with key signings in the recent years.
Talks at advanced stage, not done/sealed yet. pic.twitter.com/coosYRyD5r
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 3, 2025
Who is Andrea Berta?
Andrea Berta is an Italian football executive renowned for his expertise in scouting, talent acquisition, and squad management. Born on January 1, 1972, in Brescia, Italy, he initially worked in business before transitioning to football administration in 2002.
Career Path and Achievements
Berta began his career as sporting director of Italian side AC Carpenedolo in 2002 before moving to Parma in 2007. A stint at Genoa followed in 2009, where he further honed his skills in player recruitment.
His big break came in 2013 when he joined Atletico Madrid as a technical director. Four years later, in 2017, he was promoted to sporting director, a role in which he oversaw some of the club’s most successful transfer dealings.
During his tenure, Atletico Madrid won multiple trophies, including:
- Copa del Rey (2013)
- La Liga (2013-14, 2020-21)
- Supercopa de España (2014)
- Europa League (2017-18)
- UEFA Super Cup (2018)
Berta departed Atletico Madrid in January 2025 after a successful 12-year spell with the club.
Brief overview on Andrea Berta –
Joined Atleti in 2013 as technical director, became Sporting director at 2017
During his tenure , Atlético won several major titles:
One Copa del Rey (2013)
Two La Liga titles (2013-14 and 2020-21)
One Supercopa de España (2014)
One Europa… pic.twitter.com/xxCiCoatGB— Doc (@karthikadhaigal) March 3, 2025
Andrea Berta’s Best Signings
Berta is responsible for some of Atletico Madrid’s most successful transfer deals. Since becoming sporting director in 2017, he oversaw 52 signings with an estimated expenditure of €828 million.
One of Berta’s most astute moves was re-signing Rodri, a player Atletico had initially sold to Villarreal, before bringing him back in 2018.
Some of his most notable signings include:
- David Villa
- Antoine Griezmann
- Jan Oblak
- Yannick Carrasco
- Diogo Jota
- Diego Costa
- Thomas Lemar
- Rodri
- Kieran Trippier
- Marcos Llorente
- Joao Felix
- Alvaro Morata
- Luis Suarez
- Matheus Cunha
- Rodrgio De Paul
- Julian Alvarez
- Conor Gallagher
Why Arsenal Want Andrea Berta
Arsenal are in search of a sporting director and may be looking to replicate the success seen at Atletico Madrid, particularly in terms of squad building and player recruitment.
The Gunners have been contenders for the Premier League title in recent seasons but have narrowly missed out. With Berta’s ability to identify talent and work within financial constraints, he could be the missing piece to take Arsenal to the next level.
Discussions between Arsenal and Berta are ongoing, with Romano confirming that talks are at an advanced stage, though the deal is yet to be finalised.
If appointed, he will be tasked with shaping Arsenal’s transfer strategy, improving squad depth, and ensuring the club remains competitive both domestically and in Europe.
While Berta is the top contender, Arsenal’s shortlist reportedly includes other notable candidates such as Dan Ashworth, Roberto Olabe, and Thiago Scuro.
With his track record of successful transfers, strong scouting network, and experience in building a winning team on a budget, Andrea Berta could be the perfect fit for Arsenal’s long-term project.
