Arsenal has officially announced the appointment of Andrea Berta as their new sporting director. Berta, who made a name for himself at Atletico Madrid, will now take charge of Arsenal’s transfer business.
During his time at Atletico, Berta was responsible for some successful signings, including Rodri from Villarreal for €20m. Rodri went on to become a key player for Atletico before being sold to Manchester City for a significant profit.
Another successful signing by Berta was Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid for €40m. Llorente has been a standout performer for Atletico under Diego Simeone.
One of Berta’s more controversial signings was Luis Suarez from Barcelona for €7m. Despite doubts about Suarez’s age, he proved to be a valuable asset for Atletico, helping them win the league title.
Berta also successfully brought Antoine Griezmann back to Atletico from Barcelona, initially on loan before making the move permanent for €20m.
Additionally, Berta was involved in the signing of promising young striker Samu Aghehowa from Granada for €6m, who has since attracted interest from top clubs.
Atletico made a significant investment in Julian Alvarez from Manchester City for €95m, a move that raised eyebrows but ultimately paid off as Alvarez became a key player for the team.
Diego Costa’s return to Atletico from Chelsea for €60m was a sentimental but costly move, as Costa’s time at the club was short-lived.
Thomas Lemar’s signing from Monaco for €72m was seen as a risk that did not pay off, as Lemar struggled to make an impact at Atletico.
Finally, Joao Felix’s €126m signing from Benfica was a record-breaking move that did not live up to expectations, leading to his eventual departure.
These are just some of the key signings made by Andrea Berta during his time at Atletico Madrid, showcasing both his successes and challenges in the transfer market.