Arsenal has finally reached an agreement with a new sports director to replace Edu in the Emirates Stadium after a long wait of five months.
Although the Brazilian was not regularly seen at the pitch or in the stands, he was a key figure in the Mikel Arteta team.
His time at the Gunners, since his promotion in 2019, was characterized by crucial ways to solve challenging tasks, such as forcing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the club or the rise of various important players, such as Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
But that is over: it is time for a new stage, a new sports director and especially new hope. Andrea Berta may sound like an unknown name for most Premier League fans, but unquestionably he has built up a reputation when it comes to sealing initially conceivable deals.
The Italian will arrive at the Emirates Stadium after having spent more than a decade in Atletico Madrid. Certainly, having success in the domestic competition, while Real Madrid is your neighbors, and Barcelona continues to win is not an easy task. Diego Simeone's side won Laliga twice, and it is no wonder that it took place at the same time Berta was in the club.
A man behind the shadow of the manager can be what Arsenal needs. The Side of Arteta wanted to add a striker to the team during the winter transfer window, but went empty-handed in February, something that their Premier League title Push has derailed.
In the light of his approaching arrival, Mail Sport has taken a look at Berta's record in the transfer market in Atletico.
Best Transfers
Antoine Griezmann
The team leader who made 429 performances for Atletico scored 197 goals and added 91 assists; Is there a chance that he would not be in the list? It was a risky decision in the summer of 2014, after Berta decided to pay £ 29.4 million (€ 35 million) for a young, 24 years old, Frans Vooruit from Real Sociedad.
The rest is only history and only a penalty-miss in 2015-16 Champions League final against Rivals Los Blancos distanced the player of a long-awaited triumph.
Only a team leader such as Griezmann can be forgiven for his mistakes – even for a two -year -old Barcelona -Saga. The player will be 34 this month but has not seen any decrease in performance.
Rodri
The second season of Berta after taking over the role of sports director in 2017 was characterized by a highly expected transfer in football. Rodri appeared as a young yet full of potential player of the Villarreal Academy System that would fit perfectly with the new playing style of Diego Simeone.
After years of promoting the low-block defensive line and dependence on physical football instead of innovative tactics, the Argentinian thought it was time for change. Rodri was an important element of Simeone's transition, although he stayed in the club for only a year.
However, he played in 47 games, with 34 in Laliga, and added three goals and one assistant to his statistics.
Unbelievers led Rodri's first development in the capital of Spain to his relocation of £ 63 million to Manchester City in the summer of 2019 and a balloon d'Or five years later.
Luis Suarez
It was not an easy time for everyone. Barcelona reached the highlight of their financial crisis, while Atletico Madrid struggled without a world -class striker. A quick move for Luis Suarez – who joins Juventus, saw the Uruguayan arriving in the Metropolitano in 2020 for £ 5.5 million.
The result is well documented: El Pistolero added another LaLiga title to his trophy room, while Barcelona, with Koeman, was limited to a Copa del Rey, who often lacked the goals of Suarez.
After just one campaign in the club, Suarez described his decision to join Atletico as 'the best decision' he could have made, which showed that he had several offers before his exit from Nou Camp.
Jose Gimenez
Replacing the legendary defender Diego Godin is not an easy task, but Jose Gimenez remains an important player for Simeone and has had 348 performances for the club since 2013.
During his time in the club, Atletico has won two Laliga titles, two Spanish Super Cups, One Europa League and one UEFA Supercup trophy.
Still only 30, Gimenez has seen everything you could experience in football, and he remains a leader on the field and in the dressing room.
Since he had signed on the Uruguayan side Donube for only £ 755,000, this transfer has certainly been a success.
Worst transfers
Joao Felix
How do we start with this? Since Atletico, Joao Felix has been struggling for an incredible fee of £ 115 million in the summer of 2020.
Despite nine goals in his first campaign, he struggled for the following years and never saw a coach like Simeone.
Even Leen Proverbs in Chelsea and Barcelona could not save his career. What is his best position on the field? Is he a second striker, left wing player or centrally ahead?
Xavi, Frank Lampard and Enzo Maresca could not find it. Moreover, a conflict with Diego Simeone did not improve the situation.
Felix concluded his career in the capital Spain with 34 goals and 18 assists in 131 competitions, which came to Chelsea last summer, who have since borrowed him to AC Milan.
Thomas Lemar
In 2017, Thomas Lemar was one of the most hunted young players of European football after he shining in Monaco.
He was linked to various top European clubs and Atletico paid £ 62 million for the midfielder the next summer.
However, he struggled in Spain and Simeone has admitted his disappointment about the failure of the Frenchman to have an impact.
The departure of Lemar in the summer – or when he will no longer have a contract in June 2027 – seems inevitable, with the player only appearing this season.
Diego Costa (second spell)
Various injuries and the arrival of Luis Suarez made sure that the return from Diego Costa to the club was unhappy.
Simeone's side paid £ 58 million to sign Costa again in 2017, who had shown during his first enchantment to the Club of 2010-2014.
Only three years later, Costa had terminated his contract after falling the pecking order.
Jackson Martinez
Although Atletico Madrid and specifically Andrea Berta an exit for Jackson Martinez to Guangzhou Evergrande insured, fans were shocked by his struggles for Simeone's side.
The expectations were high because the former Colombia International became a member of a talented and experienced striker that Diego Costa could replace at the No. 9 place.
However, Martinez could not adapt to the Argentinian system, failed to connect with Griezmann and often moisture with injuries.
Only six months after he was affiliated with £ 25 million, Atletico President Enrique Cerezo admitted that Martinez was not at the club level and he was sold to the Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande for £ 38.4 million, which means that the Spanish side made at least win with the striker.
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