Arsenal has confirmed that Andrea Berta has officially taken on the sporting director role, succeeding Edu Gaspar, who recently departed for Nottingham Forest. The 53-year-old Italian brings a wealth of expertise from his long tenure at Atlético Madrid, where he played a crucial part in shaping the club’s success over more than a decade. Known for his sharp eye in the transfer market and ability to build competitive squads, Berta’s arrival marks an important step for Arsenal as they aim to strengthen their position both domestically and in Europe.
At Arsenal, Berta’s primary task will be to ensure that the team aligns closely with Mikel Arteta’s vision. Since Arteta’s promotion to manager in 2020, Arsenal has operated under a partnership model, where the sporting director works collaboratively rather than hierarchically with the manager. This approach has been key to the club’s recent progress, and Berta is expected to continue fostering this dynamic.
The decision to appoint Berta followed a comprehensive search process led by managing director Richard Garlick. While Jason Ayto, Edu’s deputy and interim sporting director, was a strong internal candidate and had earned trust within the club, Arsenal ultimately decided to look externally for a fresh perspective. Several high-profile names were considered for the role, including Real Sociedad’s Roberto Olabe and former Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky. However, Berta stood out due to his proven track record at the highest level and his ability to adapt to new challenges.
Berta’s experience working alongside Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid—where he successfully navigated a structure dominated by a strong managerial figure—will be invaluable at Arsenal. Although Arteta may not yet have achieved Simeone’s level of success, his influence at the club is similarly significant. With a pivotal summer transfer window ahead, Berta’s expertise will be crucial in shaping Arsenal’s future ambitions.
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Welcome to Arsenal Andrea
Sporting Director is an important position
Hope all goes well
Wenger said he didn’t need a sporting director in 2017, because he didn’t want to get blamed for the sporting director’s decision on player transfers
Berta’s arrival means Arteta won’t be fully blamed if the new players don’t perform well
Wanna bet.
We can expect him to bring in more Spanish-speaking and Italian players
He made a huge mistake at Atletico Madrid, by signing Joao Felix at an exorbitant fee. I hope he won’t repeat a similar mistake at Arsenal
Well, isn’t the word “mistake” common to man? Even you can not sincerely claim you don’t make mistakes.
I’m sure he also facilitated great signings at Atletico Madrid, if not the club won’t be where it is now with the coach earning almost 3 times what Arteta earns.
So one so-called mistake is not an issue, to worry about.
We are excited to have such a man of proven success in Atletico Madrid now at Arsenal.
My mistake never cost £113m
He also made a £25m mistake by signing Matheus Cunha for Atletico Madrid
The transfer of Felix was a ridiculous gamble. It is also reflected some of craziness that had distorted the football market when certain nation-states started flexing their financial muscle.
The Cunha transfer whilst expensive was not on the same level.
Sign Zubimendi and 2 attackers who can play across the forward line for better squad rotation to avoid too many injuries.
We don’t need Isak. He’s too expensive and an injury risk
Seems like a good appointment.
Answer to the headline !
Hopefully not giving Arteta a new and improved contract like his old pal Edu did before he left .
Let’s hope he takes control
Of transfers and gets a proper CF ,last 5-6 years have been hit and miss and miss .
And wasn’t that Edu’s job?
We need trophies, hopefully he can help achieve this with (preferably) or without Arteta. We also need to do better in the transfer windows, which means making most of the outgoings and getting the best talent available.
I can only wish this works out well for us all, wẹ need the views, efforts, decisions of backroom staffs translating into on field results for the collective good of the AR5EN4L brand…
Trust the process
👍AR5EN4L
Welcome Berta! I wish you would start your magics by picking the low hanging fruits next week through bringing in a free agent striker who relieves Merino from unanticipated pressure. Transfer business remains active all months through the season. Remember Madrid won ucl title last season by the help of a certain near retirement striker Joselu. I hope he had this idea before the appointment. Let him start asap from the quick wins. Italian job!
What would be the fate of the incumbent Jason Ayto? Does Berta come with his mentors all along with him as most coaches do or is he going to work within an already established staff? The latter i think creates excuses for failure. Is he involved as well in the women and youth teams? Needs clarification. Berta is an outsider afterall to EPL unlike Edu. Arsenal historically is less connected with Italians apart from a former goalie vito mannone and the current Calafiori. Berta is the 3rd? However Serie A imports vieira henry bergkamp kanu platt did wonders at Arsenal.
David Ornstein reports that Gyokeres is the top striker target.
Hopefully he can get the players that Mikel wants, as it is Mikel that coaches the players, selects the formation and tactics, picks the starting 11 and the Subs, not Andrea Berta.
HD, my hope as well and as it should be imo and MA should be rewarded for success or held accountable for failure to achieve the results on the pitch as expected by the owner
Have some reservations but clearly a knowledgeable type with a decent track record. Just hope that he steers away from the aging tried and tested slow Spanish / Italian veterans and uses Arsenal’s greater resources more imaginatively to also spot and entice emerging talent.
Yes a very decent record but Arteta will have the final say on who comes in so basically he will have to do what Arteta asks. The buck stops with Arteta and always will, it seems Arsenal hasn’t learnt from when Wenger was given god like powers.
First let me say a big welcome to Andrea Berta.
That said, I completely disagree that his main purpose is to align the team to Arteta’s vision.
Berta now owns the squad for the medium to long term. Arteta’s new challenge is to negotiate with him for a squad of players to win now. There is a big difference – trust me.
Welcome to the club Andrea! Cheers to a new beginning with a new member in the background staff 🍻. As we remain hopeful of success on and off the pitch. COYG!!!