Andrea Berta has been named the new sporting director of Arsenal, the English Premier League club has announced, replacing Edu who resigned in November to assume a position ostensibly in connection with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
An Italian football executive, Berta has carved out a reputation as a formidable player in the sport; he spent almost 12 years at Atlético Madrid. He had a direct hand in the club’s recruitment strategy, consistently bringing in top talent in competition with financially heftier rivals. Atlético enjoyed sustained domestic and European success under his watch, driven in part by his keen eye in scouting and player development.
Prior to his time in Spain, Berta worked at Carpenedolo, Parma and Genoa in Italy. Lately he has been studying English in London to get ready for the new job.
Upon making the move, Berta told Arsenal’s official website of his joy at joining a club “at such an important moment in its evolution”. He complimented Arsenal’s recent progress in returning to the top echelon of European teams, and said he was eager to help dictate its future success.
Second in the Premier League and 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, Arsenal returns to action after the international break with a home match against Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
