Who Is Andrea Berta - Arsenal’s New Sporting Director?

Arsenal’s first ever Sporting Director, Edu, joined the club in that role back in 2022, having played for the club between 2001 and 2005 before becoming the technical director in 2019. He has helped Arsenal return to the upper echelons of European football in his time at the club, but in November of last year it was announced that he would leave the club to join Evangelos Marinakis at a network of clubs that include Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos.

🗣️ "I have a lot of respect for him"

As part of his most revealing UK interview, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis discusses the possibility of hiring Edu 🌲 pic.twitter.com/mzefPhkVrg

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 5, 2024

Arsenal fans were not best pleased at this decision, but they were also excited at the prospect of a new chapter at the club. Names such as former Brighton sporting director Dan Ashworth were thrown about, but it looks as if the Gunners have settled with Andrea Berta, but who is he?

Andrea Berta’s Career

Andrea Berta is an Italian sporting director, born in Brescia. He has no background in playing at a high level like Edu has, but he has a good track record when it comes to running a club. He began his career in football administration at FC Carpenedolo SSD before joining Parma and then getting a major role at Genoa.

In his time at Genoa he was able to get involved in the club’s transfers for the first time, and was influential in the signing of Hernan Crespo. Despite success in Italy, he didn’t really manage to make too much of a name for himself, especially in Europe. It wasn’t until Atletico Madrid came calling that he was able to demonstrate his capabilities at a big club.

Andrea Berta has chosen to become the new sporting director of Arsenal amid interest from Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and other top clubs 📝 pic.twitter.com/eOPxv4NBSG

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 9, 2025

He moved to Atletico Madrid in 2013, initially as their technical director before becoming the club's sporting director in 2017. During his time at the club, Atletico Madrid, against all odds, won two La Liga titles and a Europa League, cementing the club as serious contenders in both Spain and Europe once again.

He left in January, moving to London with the aim to become the sporting director of a Premier League club. Arsenal haven’t been the only side interested in him as Manchester United were reportedly sniffing around him, but the Gunners were able to persuade him to stay in the capital.

Andrea Berta’s Best And Worst Signings

The most obvious criticism of Berta’s signings will be Atletico Madrid’s move for Joao Felix in 2019 for over £100m. Despite being a striker, the Portuguese footballer scored just 34 times across four seasons at the club, costing them £3.32m per goal. He has since moved to Chelsea and now AC Milan on loan.

However the vast majority of Berta’s signings have been successes. Julian Alvarez moved to Madrid from Manchester City in the summer, and while the English champions have experienced one of their worst seasons in recent years, Alvares has continued his goal scoring form, with 22 in all competitions.

Which of these transfers was Andrea Berta's best? 💰

Arsenal are reportedly close to hiring the man who once signed Antoine Griezmann for €30m, sold him for €120m, then re-signed him for €20m. 🧠 pic.twitter.com/zCKDU5ZPRH

— 90min (@90min_Football) March 3, 2025

The one player that has put Berta’s name into the Atletico Madrid history books is Antoine Griezmann. The club bought the Frenchman from Real Sociedad for £30m in 2014 and he managed to score 133 goals in five seasons before he was sold to Barcelona for in excess of £100m. He was a major flop for them, so he returned to Atletico Madrid in 2021 initially on loan before he joined permanently for around £20m.