Andrea Berta’s best and worst signings as Arsenal appoint new sporting director

Arsenal have announced the appointment of former Atletico Madrid chief Andrea Berta as their new sporting director and Edu’s replacement.

The Gunners were left stunned last November when Edu resigned from his post after five years at the Emirates, in which time he helped transform Mikel Arteta’s side into title-contenders, overseeing many a successful transfer.

Following a dismal January transfer window, where they failed to sign anyone and address their lack of firepower up top, the Premier League club stepped up efforts to find a replacement sporting director.

And on Sunday they confirmed the arrival of Berta who departed Atletico in January after 12 years at the La Liga giants and previously worked at Italian teams Carpenedolo, Parma and Genoa.

‘I am thrilled to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for the club,’ the Italian, 53, said upon the announcement.

‘I have watched with great interest the way Arsenal has evolved in recent years and I have admired the hard work that has gone in to reestablishing the club as a major force in European football with a passionate following around the world.

‘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.’

Over the past eight years, Berta made 52 signings for Atletico at an estimated expenditure of €828million (£684m) and was influential in many more deals prior to that.

Andrea Berta’s best Atletico Madrid signings

Perhaps Atletico Madrid’s best two players of the past decade have been Jan Oblak and Antione Griezmann.

Oblak has consistently been regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and practically a steal in the transfer market, costing £13m from Benfica in 2014.

Berta actually made a £64m profit on Griezmann after he signed the French World Cup winner, sold him to rivals Barcelona at a huge cost and then brought him back two years later on the cheap. In all, the forward has 197 goals and 91 assists for the club.

Though he only spent one season in Madrid, £24m signing Rodri is also among Berta’s success stories, with the defensive midfielder going onto win the treble and Ballon d’Or at Manchester City.

Sometimes the cheapest transfers are the best and that was certainly the case with Luis Suarez who was snapped up for just £5.5m by Berta after being controversially binned off by Barcelona in 2020.

Though 33 at the time, the former Liverpool striker delivered one last outstanding season as he fired Atletico toward the La Liga title, the second won during Berta’s time at the club.

Andrea Berta’s worst Atletico Madrid signings

Of course, not every signing has been success, with Joao Felix, currently on loan at AC Milan from Chelsea, among Berta’s flops.

The fourth-most expensive player of all-time, costing £113m, the Portugal forward never adapted to Diego Simeone’s style of football and after several loan moves he was finally sold to Stamford Bridge at a substantial loss.

Monaco’s title-winning team of 2017 featured many star players like Kylian Mbappe and Bernardo Silva, so there was excitement when Atletico signed Thomas Lemar, then a Arsenal and Liverpool target, for around £58m.

29 goal contributions in 189 games and just four appearances in the last two seasons show the attacking midfielder wasn’t worth the hype.

Another seemingly no-brainer of a transfer was to re-sign Diego Costa for £50m after he was unceremoniously dumped by Chelsea in 2017, but his second spell at the club was a disaster, yielding just 19 goals in three years.

Additionally, Berta signed current Arsenal target Matheus Cunha and Gunners fans may be hoping for some deja vu following his explosive form for Wolves this season.

He wasn’t outstanding at Atletico, though the real transfer mistake was letting him leave Madrid too soon.

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