Arsenal has confirmed the arrival of Andrea Berta as the new sports director of the club, with the co-chair of the club Josh Kroenke describing the transfer specialist as the “impressive figure”.
The Gunners were disregarded in November by the shock exit from Edu. The former deputy of the Brazilian, Jason Ayto, temporarily took over and supervised a deeply overwhelming transfer window in January.
After an extensive scout period, in which Arsenal looked at several candidates – including the freshly released Manchester United boss Dan Ashworth – fell for Mikel Areta for Berta.
“I am very happy to join Arsenal for the club in an extremely exciting time,” said the Italian director, who spent almost 12 years in Atletico Madrid, on arrival.
“I saw with great interest how Arsenal has developed in recent years and I have admired the hard work that has restored the club as a main force in European football with a passionate followers around the world.
“The club has great values and a rich history, and I look forward to playing my role in the design of a successful future with a great team. I can’t wait to start my new role, and I am very much looking forward to experiencing my first game in the Emirates stage together with our supporters.”
The co-chair of the association, Kroenke, added: “Anyone who knows football knows that Andrea is an impressive personality. He has great knowledge of the game, a great photo record, a strong network and an insatiable desire to build up winning teams.
“Andrea will be a great addition to our club. He understands our values and what we stand for, and we have no doubt that he will help us take the next steps to win great trophies.
“We carried out a thorough recruitment process and were very impressed by the level of all other candidates, but it was Andreas experience and the success he enjoyed.
“We look forward to working together and welcoming him to the Arsenal family.”