Arsenal is looking to fill their vacant sporting director position this month, and Andrea Berta has emerged as the frontrunner. The Gunners have been without a permanent sporting director since Edu Gaspar’s departure last November. While Jason Ayto has been filling the role on an interim basis, the club is eager to find a permanent replacement to help with the upcoming summer transfer window. It’s imperative that their new sporting director is hired well in advance.
Andrea Berta is the frontrunner to become Arsenal’s new sporting director
According to Fabrizio Romano, Berta is the Gunners’
“top” candidate for the position. Talks are reportedly at an advanced stage, but “no deal has been struck yet.”
Berta, formerly of Atletico Madrid, was also identified by David Ornstein as one of the leading candidates. Other names considered for the role include Dan Ashworth, Roberto Olabe, and Thiago Scuro.
Berta left Atletico last year after a long tenure, joining in 2013, serving as technical director for four years and then as sporting director from 2017. During his time in Madrid, he worked closely with Diego Simeone and “played a key role in building two La Liga-winning teams during a time when Barcelona and Real Madrid threatened a perpetual duopoly.” Atletico also won the Europa League and reached two Champions League finals during his tenure.
Arsenal is likely impressed by Berta’s ability to collaborate effectively with a strong personality like Simeone. His track record suggests he is willing to take risks in recruitment. While some of his high-profile signings didn’t pan out, his willingness to take a risk must be commended.
Berta’s potential arrival should be encouraging to Arsenal supporters. While details of his day-to-day operations are not widely known, his accomplishments at Atletico Madrid are impressive.
