Andrea Berta stepped into the role of Arsenal’s sporting director in March 2025, succeeding Edu Gaspar and initiating a different strategic approach at the Emirates Stadium. Before moving to north London, the Italian administrator built his reputation gradually, beginning in the backrooms of Parma and Genoa.
Andrea Berta stepped into the role of Arsenal’s sporting director in March 2025, succeeding Edu Gaspar and initiating a different strategic approach at the Emirates Stadium. Before moving to north London, the Italian administrator built his reputation gradually, beginning in the backrooms of Parma and Genoa.
His reputation, however, was forged at Atlético Madrid. Initially part of the club’s hierarchy for several years, he assumed command of their transfer planning in 2017. From that position, he contributed heavily to the assembly of a side admired for its discipline, tactical fit, and competitive mentality.
With his arrival at Arsenal, those same methods have already left an impression. His brief spell in London has included headline signings, bold decisions, and a willingness to take calculated risks. That philosophy mirrors his work in Spain, where dramatic victories in the market often sat alongside deals that stalled.
A look across his résumé reveals both outcomes vividly. Some investments became triumphs. Others fell flat. Together, they define the complex legacy of a figure now tasked with guiding Arsenal’s long-term structure.
5. Rodri (Villarreal → Atlético Madrid, $23.5m)
Having once released him from their academy, Atlético revisited their judgement in 2018 and secured Rodri from Villarreal. The deal attracted little attention at the time, yet proved shrewd: within a year, Manchester City triggered his release clause worth $83.5m. Berta’s eye for his development and the profit generated made the transfer an exceptional piece of foresight.
4. Marcos Llorente (Real Madrid → Atlético Madrid, $47m)
Signed in 2019 after limited opportunities across the city, Marcos Llorente was seen as a gamble. However, he soon became central to Diego Simeone’s structure. With more than 250 appearances and unwavering trust from the coach, the move transformed early doubts into acclaim.
3. Leonardo Bonucci (Inter Milan → Genoa, $4.7m)
During his days in Italy, Berta facilitated Bonucci’s arrival at Genoa in 2009 for $4.7m before selling him to Bari weeks later for $12.4m. Supporters never witnessed the defender in action for the club, but the profit—achieved in a single window—showcased Berta’s capacity to react quickly in the market.
2. Luis Suárez (Barcelona → Atlético Madrid, $8m)
In 2020, when Barcelona discarded a 33-year-old Suárez, Atlético capitalised. His two-year run in the capital vindicated the strategy immediately, scoring 21 times in his initial La Liga campaign to help deliver the league title, followed by 11 more the next year.
1. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona → Atlético Madrid, $23.5m)
The most iconic win of the bunch. After selling Griezmann to Barcelona for $141m, Atlético reacquired him on loan in 2021 and extended the arrangement before agreeing to a permanent return for $23.5m. His resurgence and the financial flip made the sequence a defining highlight of Berta’s tenure.
5. Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP → Arsenal, $85m)
Acquired in June 2025, the striker’s early months in England have been rocky. Seven goals by Christmas have come through fortune rather than authority, and Mikel Arteta has occasionally preferred midfielder Mikel Merino up front. There remains room for improvement, but the opening impression is far from what was forecast.
4. Diego Costa (Chelsea → Atlético Madrid, $70m)
Returning in 2017 after a tense departure from Chelsea, Costa’s situation granted Atlético theoretical leverage. However, a $70m outlay for a player already training alone and desperate to leave England proved costly. With his contract terminated three years later, the transfer remains a questionable allocation of resources.
3. Thomas Lemar (Monaco → Atlético Madrid, $84.5m)
After Arsenal’s failed bid the year before, Atlético committed heavily to Lemar in 2018. Injuries and inconsistency intervened, and seven seasons on—with just 10 goals to show—he is spending the current year on loan at Girona with little influence. The fee stands as an example of hype overtaking suitability.
2. Jackson Martínez (Porto → Atlético Madrid, $41m)
Arriving in 2015 with a prolific record in Portugal, Martínez was tipped to explode in La Liga. Instead, within six months he was moved on to Guangzhou Evergrande. The small gain on the sale barely conceals the disappointment of a marquee move that never materialised on the pitch.
1. João Félix (Benfica → Atlético Madrid, $148m)
The blockbuster purchase of 2019 placed immense expectations on Félix to replace Griezmann. Despite his promise, the style clash with Simeone’s tactical demands proved persistent. Multiple loans—to Chelsea, Barcelona, and AC Milan—preceded his eventual sale back to Chelsea at a loss of roughly $87m.
Andrea Berta’s catalogue of dealings highlights the unpredictable reality of elite recruitment. His sharpest signings delivered trophies, profits, and identity; his misses serve as reminders of football’s volatility. Now embedded at Arsenal, his next chapter will determine whether London becomes the stage where those strengths outweigh the setbacks.
