Arsenal’s potential new sporting director, Andrea Berta, has shown he’s not hesitant to spend big. However, it’s the players he has invested in over the years that might raise concerns among Arsenal fans.
Berta, an Italian, spent ten years at Atletico Madrid. Initially serving as their technical director, he became the sporting director in 2017 before leaving the club in January. Reports from Italy indicate that talks with Arsenal are well underway, and the club is moving quickly to finalize Berta’s appointment ahead of what could be a crucial summer transfer window. Arsenal is on track to miss out on the Premier League title for the third consecutive year, and though Jason Ayto has taken over as interim sporting director since Edu’s departure in November, a permanent appointment is expected by the end of March.
During his eight years at Atletico, Berta played a key role in the club’s success, which included winning a La Liga title, the Europa League, and the UEFA Super Cup.
He was behind some major signings such as Diego Costa, Jan Oblak, Antoine Griezmann, and more recently, Conor Gallagher and Julian Alvarez. However, his transfer record is not without its flaws.
One of his more controversial moves was the £113million transfer of Joao Felix, which made him the fourth most expensive player in history at the time. Felix, who was just 19, failed to meet the high expectations set after his impressive performances at Benfica. After struggling at Atletico, Felix was loaned to Chelsea and Barcelona, before eventually being sold to Chelsea permanently for £42m, resulting in a £71m loss for Atletico Madrid.
Another expensive deal was the £63.2m transfer of Thomas Lemar from Monaco. Lemar’s first season saw him score only three goals, and his second season in Spain was even worse. He went without scoring or assisting in 29 appearances across all competitions. A change in Atletico’s formation led to Lemar being shifted into a central midfield role, where he continued to struggle. Although Lemar is still part of Atletico Madrid, he has faced injuries since 2023 and has barely played this season.
Given that the combined cost of Felix and Lemar was £176m, Arsenal supporters may be wary of the potential risks. The club’s investment in Berta could determine the future success or failure of their upcoming seasons. If Berta is appointed, he’ll have a significant challenge ahead, with many Arsenal fans hoping he will bring in a much-needed striker to complete their squad.
