<a href="/football" class="sdc-site-localnav__header-title" data-role="nav-header" aria-controls="sdc-site-localnav-body" aria-expanded="false"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 34 34" class="sdc-site-localnav__icon"> <path d="M6.02 12.67c.01.194.087.362.247.525l.188.192L16.52 23.45c.188.19.44.294.706.294s.518-.104.707-.293l10.135-10.134.123-.126c.162-.163.24-.332.248-.53.006-.173-.155-.438-.442-.725-.187-.187-.386-.368-.59-.537-.05-.04-.096-.078-.138-.11l-.496.495-9.193 9.193-.355.354-.354-.354-9.197-9.198-.484-.484c-.043.033-.09.07-.14.112-.204.168-.402.348-.59.536-.285.288-.446.553-.44.727z" /> </svg>Football </a> <br>Andrea Berta is set to become Arsenal's new sporting director; the Italian will replace Edu in the role at the Emirates; Berta left the same position with Atletico Madrid in January after more than a decade in the Spanish capital<br>By Melissa Reddy & Dharmesh Sheth <br>Sunday 9 March 2025 13:07, UK<br>Andrea Berta has chosen to become the new sporting director of Arsenal amid interest from Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and other top clubs - but the chance to work at Arsenal and in the Premier League proved too good an opportunity to turn down.<br>Arsenal have held a thorough process and interviewed a number of candidates, but Berta was the outstanding choice.<br>The Italian, who was available from January after 12 years in the role at Atletico Madrid, was priming for a position in the Premier League by taking English lessons in London.<br>United considered him as a successor for Dan Ashworth and PSG have been admirers of his ability to buy and sell remarkably well.<br>Berta, however, established himself as the leading candidate in Arsenal's thorough process to replace Edu, who resigned in November.<br>Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<br><br>The 53-year-old, who is credited as being a central figure in Atleti's success, is a shrewd operator in the transfer market and is esteemed around Europe not only for his ability to make a significant profit on players, but to also punch above rivals with bigger resources.<br><em>Sky Sports' Peter Smith: </em><br> Live Premier League table <br> Arsenal fixtures <br> Get Sky Sports <br> Stream the Premier League with NOW <br>"<strong>Andrea Berta </strong>arrives from <strong>Atletico Madrid </strong>with an exciting reputation for <strong>Arsenal </strong>supporters in the transfer market. He also has a ringing endorsement from those he has done deals with, praised for his meticulous approach but also the way he conducts business.<br>"The man who signed <strong>Rodri</strong>,<strong> Antoine Griezmann</strong> and <strong>Jan Oblak </strong>in bargain deals - and sold two of those three on at a substantial profit - will be expected to live up to that billing in north London.<br>"The pressure will be on to deliver a summer window which brings an out-and-out number nine and a midfield refresh to allow Mikel Arteta's team to take the final step in their pursuit of the Premier League title.<br>"Edu, Berta's predecessor, overhauled the club with Arteta during his five-year spell at the helm. Now, with a talented young squad, including a depth of defensive options, the finishing touches need to be applied to turn Arsenal into champions.<br>"Those missing pieces won't be easy to find, with the striker market limited and expensive, and rivals also on the lookout for a ball-playing No 6. The latter will be a key position to address should <strong>Jorginho </strong>and <strong>Thomas Partey </strong>leave at the end of their current contracts, as expected. A back-up in goal for <strong>David Raya</strong>, with <strong>Neto </strong>only on loan from Bournemouth, will also be a requirement.<br>"There will also be internal contracts to juggle, with star players <strong>Bukayo Saka, William Saliba </strong>and <strong>Gabriel Magalhaes</strong> having just two years on their current terms by this summer, and youngsters <strong>Myles Lewis-Skelly </strong>and <strong>Ethan Nwaneri </strong>pushing to be rewarded for their impressive performances this season.<br>"A source who has worked with Berta believes he will prove to be a shrewd appointment for Arsenal. And if he can replicate his title-winning project at Atletico with the Gunners, his acquisition could be one of their best signings of all."<br>Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<br><br><strong>Antoine Griezmann - </strong>signed from Real Sociedad for £24.8m in 2014. Sold to Barcelona in 2019 for £103m. Bought back in 2021 for £16.5m<br><strong>Rodri</strong> - signed from Villarreal for £16.5m in 2018 and then sold on to Manchester City in 2019 for £62.5m.<br><strong>Luis Suarez - </strong>signed from Barcelona in 2020 for £5.5m<br><strong>Jan Oblak </strong>- signed from Benfica in 2014 for £13m<br><strong>Marcos Llorente </strong> - signed from Real Madrid in 2019 for £35m<br><strong>Kieran Trippier </strong>- signed from Tottenham in 2019 for £20m<br><strong>Jose Gimenez - </strong>signed from Danubio for 995,000 Euros<br><strong>Stefan Savic - </strong>signed from Fiorentina for 12m Euros<br><em><strong>And he also splashed out on...</strong></em><br><strong>Joao Felix</strong> - signed from Benfica for £113m in 2019<br><strong>Julian Alvarez </strong>- signed from Man City for £82m in 2024<br><strong>Thomas Lemar </strong>- signed from Monaco for £63.2m in 2018<br><strong>Diego Costa </strong>- signed from Chelsea for £57m in 2017<br>Tom from Southampton became a millionaire for free with Super 6! 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Play for free!<br> <a href="/" class="svg-logo site-footer__site-logo"> <img class="svg-logo__image" alt="Sky Sports" src="https://e0.365dm.com/tvlogos/channels/Sky-Sports-Logo.svg" onerror="this.onerror=null;this.src='https://e0.365dm.com/tvlogos/channels/Sky-Sports-Logo.png'"> </a> © 2025 Sky UK <br><br><a href="https://news.google.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?oc=5">source</a>
