Arsenal fans are convinced the club’s new sporting director is the real deal after learning why he blocked two high-profile transfers at Atletico Madrid. The Gunners officially announced Andrea Berta’s appointment on Sunday, with the 53-year-old Italian stepping in as Edu’s replacement following the latter’s departure in November.
Berta’s track record at Atletico speaks for itself – he played a key role in signing stars like Rodri, Jan Oblak, and Luis Suarez. However, his reputation for stopping deals was just as remarkable as his ability to seal them.
Last year, reports surfaced that he vetoed Atletico’s moves for both Adrien Rabiot and Boubacar Kamara due to concerns about their private lives. According to RMC Sport, Berta told French agent Bruno Satin: “I had two conversations with Adrien Rabiot’s mother and stopped negotiations immediately because she was explaining where her son should play.”
He also reportedly pulled the plug on a deal for Kamara – now shining at Aston Villa – after visiting his home, where he found him barefoot, in shorts, and casually entertaining friends. Berta’s meticulous approach suggests he won’t just focus on securing top talent for Arsenal, but also on ensuring they bring in certain personalities.
His emphasis on character and professionalism could be a defining factor in shaping the club’s future, and supporters on social media seem thrilled at the prospect of such a principled person running the show. “[He’s] definitely not a yes man, they are in short supply at the Emirates,” one fan wrote on X. “Imagine if someone had stood up and said ‘this is BS, we are getting players on loan now’ in January, we can now just imagine.”
Another commented: “Yep, defo not a yes man I’ll give him that.” A third added: “Great to hear. Can’t stand talented player who ruin it by being difficult behind the scenes.”
But before Arsenal fans get too carried away, it’s worth noting that Berta hasn’t always struck gold in the transfer market. He was responsible for some costly misfires, including Joao Felix for £113million, Alvaro Morata for £58m, and Diego Costa’s return for £57m – only for Costa to manage just 12 La Liga goals across three seasons in his second spell at Atletico.
