Arsenal favourite Andrea Berta’s top ten transfers from Bonucci to Griezmann
Andrea Berta has reached an agreement with Arsenal to become their new sporting director after Edu made his surprise exit from the Emirates in November, and we’ve picked out his top ten transfers.
He was sporting director of AC Carpenodolo and then Parma, but none of his signings at those two clubs have made the cut, with two in this ten from his three-year stint at Genoa and the rest from his 12 years of service at Atletico Madrid.
Berta spent the first four years in the Spanish capital as technical director before being promoted, but we’ve credited him with transfers made in that period in the assumption that he played his part.
10) Leonardo Bonucci: Inter to Genoa (€4m)
Berta’s pride at making a €6.5m profit Berta on Bonucci in a month by selling him to Bari for €10.5m in the same transfer window as when he bought him has likely dwindled across a career that’s seen the centre-back win 15 major trophies including nine Scudettos and the European Championship with his country, for whom he’s made 121 appearances.
He might now believe he should have squeezed a bit more out of Bari, especially given Bonucci left for Juventus the year after for nearly double that fee, or at least granted the Genoa fans the opportunity to actually see one of the greatest centre-backs of the modern era play for their club. Still, a 160 per cent profit in 30 days is quite something.
9) Kieran Trippier: Tottenham to Atletico Madrid (€22m)
Trippier’s move to Spain came as a surprise because at that stage in 2022 is was still weirdly seen as some sort of admission of Premier League failure to leave The Best League In The World for any club other than Real Madrid or Barcelona. He had a lovely time though, playing a major role in the title win during his second season.
8) Kevin Prince Boateng: Portsmouth to Genoa (€5.7m)
Boateng’s another example of Berta flipping footballers for profit, as he joined Genoa in July 2010, left on loan to Milan for a €3m fee in August 2010, and then joined them pemanently for €10.5m a year later. He did the same trick with Martin Demichelis, signing him on a free transfer from Malaga for Atletico before palming him off to Manchester City for €4m without him ever playing a game.
7) Julian Alvarez: Manchester City to Atletico Madrid (€70m)
The impact of his transfer is arguably being felt more in Manchester than Madrid, with no City player other than Erling Haaland looking likely to get anywhere near the 29 goal contributions Alvarez managed last term, but he’s already on 27 in 41 appearances for Simeone’s side in what could end up being a treble-winning season, with his stunning strike against Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie proof of value for money even at €70m.
6) Stefan Savic: Fiorentina to Atletico Madrid (€12m)
Savic made just 21 appearances for Manchester City having joined from Partizan Belgrade for €12m, mainly from the bench, in his one and only season at the Etihad, and watched the AGUERROOO moment from home having not even been included in Roberto Mancini’s squad before being sold to Fiorentina for nothing.
City haven’t particularly missed the centre-back since but their loss has been a man-mountain of a gain for Atletico, for whom Savic made 297 appearances at the heart of their infamously miserly defence before leaving for Trabzonspor in the summer.
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5) Luis Suarez: Barcelona to Atletico Madrid (€9m)
Signed at the age of 33 after a relatively meagre injury-hit season at Barcelona, it was a gamble which paid off in a big way. Suarez scored 21 league goals to lead Simeone’s side to the title.
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4) Rodri: Villarreal to Atletico Madrid (€20m)
Signed for €20m and sold for €70m to Manchester City a year later before winning everything in club football, the European Championship for his country and the highest individual honour in football that saw Atletico’s city rivals throw a collective hissy fit. Perfect.
3) Jose Gimenez: Danubio FC to Atletico Madrid (€995k)
Pretty reasonable for a centre-back who’s gone on to make 347 appearances for the club, winning La Liga twice, has won 92 caps for Uruguay in the process and was valued at €70m at his peak around five years ago.
2) Jan Oblak: Benfica to Atletico Marid (€16m)
Widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world over the last decade or so along with Thibaut Courtois, Ederson, Emi Martinez, Manuel Neuer and the Paris Saint-Germain-denying superhuman Alisson, Oblak was named Player of the Season as Atletico won the title in 2020/2021 and his clean sheet percentage of 48 across 358 La Liga games the highest of any goalkeeper to have played more than ten games in the competition’s history.
1) Antoine Griezmann: Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid (€30m); Barcelona to Atletico Madrid (€22m)
If you think of Atletico Madrid, after Diego Simeone comes Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman is so deeply woven into the fabric of the football club that we couldn’t remember who he played for before joining and had absolutely no idea his six goals for Real Sociedad in 2009/2010 helped them to the second division title and promotion to La Liga.
He probably didn’t think at that point that he would go on to break the all-time Atletico Madrid goalscoring record, but here we are, with his two-year €100m-making dalliance with Barcelona if anything making him more of a club legend and acting as further testament to Berta’s negotiation skills.
Jamie Carragher has hit out at Man City for their “absolutely ridiculous” banner mocking Vinicius Junior ahead of their 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid.
Manchester City have made the bold call to include Rodri in their Champions League squad despite his return date being unknown, while one of their January signings was omitted.
Paul Robinson and Stefan Borson have both endorsed Douglas Luiz for Manchester City, with the midfielder named the “most likely option” and he could create a “problem” when Rodri is …
Cristiano Ronaldo shared his opinion on who he felt should have won the Ballon d’Or speaking at the shameless Globe Soccer Awards last week.
Scouts at Man City have identified Valencia midfielder Pepelu as the ‘ideal man’ to replace Rodri in January, according to reports.
If we accept that Manchester City need a new Rodri – and they clearly do – then the best place to start looking is at players with similar skills.
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Arsenal’s new sporting director signed Rodri for £16.5m and sealed bargain Luis Suarez deal
The Final Word with Majestic & Alan Pardew
The Final Word with Majestic & Alan Pardew
Arsenal have reached an agreement with Andrea Berta to become their new sporting director, talkSPORT understands.
The Gunners have been searching for a new transfer guru following Edu’s exit in November.
Edu had spent five years at the Emirates Stadium having returned to the club in 2019.
Interim sporting director Jason Ayto had been a candidate for the role along with former Gunners midfielder Tomas Rosicky.
Former Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth was also linked with the role having suddenly left Old Trafford in December.
However, Berta is set to be handed the job.
The Italian had been linked with joining AC Milan in recent weeks following his exit from Atletico Madrid.
Berta spent 12 years with the Spanish giants before leaving the club in January.
During his time with Atletico, Diego Simeone’s side won six trophies including two LaLiga titles and the Europa League.
It is his transfer prowess which has caught the eye, though, after a string of high-profile deals in the Spanish capital.
Berta completed the £16.5million signing of Rodri from Villarreal in 2018.
After 47 appearances, the midfielder was sold to Manchester City for £58million a year later.
Rodri has gone on to win 11 trophies with City, including the treble, and won the Ballon d’Or in October.
His devastating ACL injury has had a huge impact on Pep Guardiola’s side, who are not going to defend their Premier League title and have been knocked out of the Champions League.
Berta also oversaw the sale of Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona for £99million in 2019 before re-signing him for £18million four years later.
His notable signings also include Joao Felix, Kieran Trippier, Luis Suarez, Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher.
Having started his career in his native Italy with Carpendolo, Berta has also worked with Parma and Genoa in the past.
He was also named ‘sporting director of the year’ at the Globe Soccer Awards back in 2019.
The award has also been won by former Tottenham director Fabio Paratici and outgoing City chief Txiki Begiristain.
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Arsenal in talks with Andrea Berta, former Atlético sporting director – sources
Andrea Berta has emerged as a candidate to become Arsenal’s next sporting director, sources have told ESPN.
The Gunners have been conducting a series of interviews since the transfer window closed with several names under consideration including former Manchester United recruitment chief Dan Ashworth and Roberto Olabe, who will leave Real Sociedad at the end of the season.
Berta, 53, was in talks to join AC Milan after leaving Atlético Madrid in December, those discussions have broken down with the 53-year-old, who is subject to interest from Arsenal as they seek to replace Edu.
The Gunners announced in November that Edu had resigned from his role at the club, with sources telling ESPN that the Brazilian had been approached by Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis to lead their multi-club group with an offer that would include a considerably increased salary.
Edu is currently serving a six-month period of gardening leave while managing director Richard Garlick leads the search for his replacement.
Sources added that no agreement has been finalised, but Arsenal are hoping to conclude the process this month so the new appointment can start work ahead of the summer transfer window.
Ale Moreno criticises Real Madrid’s failure to put the game beyond Rayo Vallecano, as Carlo Ancelotti’s men hold on for a 2-1 win. (1:19)
Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior scored in the first half to give Real Madrid an easy 2-1 win over neighbours Rayo Vallecano on Sunday that helped them draw level at the top of the table in the battle to retain their LaLiga crown.
Only one point separates Spain’s three biggest clubs in one of the closest title races in recent years with Barcelona leading the pack on 57 points, ahead of second-placed Real on goal difference with Atletico Madrid in third on 56 points after a 2-1 loss at Getafe earlier on Sunday.
Barça, who will face Atletico next Sunday, have a game in hand after their match against Osasuna on Saturday was postponed due to the sudden death of their team doctor.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti rested several key starters including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Antonio Rudiger ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against rivals Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Yet Real were still the better side and dominated proceedings from early on at their Bernabeu stadium.
They got a two-goal lead with quickfire strikes, as Mbappé finished a counter in the 30th minute and Vinícius extended their advantage with a fine individual goal four minutes later.
Vinícius also hit the post with a strike from just outside the box that could have extended their lead even further.
Rayo reduced the deficit in added time before the break with a tremendous shot from the edge of the area by Pedro Díaz, which hit the crossbar before bouncing over the goalline and then out again, with the VAR awarding the goal after it was not given by the referee.
Real did just enough to manage their lead after the break against a Rayo side that fought hard and created good chances but lacked firepower to pose a real threat to the LaLiga champions.
The Premier League will again stage a four-team Summer Series across three cities in the United States from July 26 to Aug. 3, featuring AFC Bournemouth, Everton, Manchester United and West Ham, it was announced on Saturday.
This second edition of the preseason tournament will be held in New Jersey, Chicago and Atlanta.
A double-header will be played on July 26 at MetLife Stadium when Everton take on Bournemouth and Manchester United face West Ham.
The four teams will then compete at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 30 before they play at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Aug. 3.
Pre-sale of tickets opens on March 13 and a single ticket purchase will give fans a seat for both matches at each double-header.
This is the second Premier League Summer Series to be held in the United States. In July 2023, more than 265,000 fans watched Premier League clubs play with Chelsea the inaugural winner.
“We are delighted to be bringing the Premier League Summer Series back to the United States,” Premier League CEO Richard Masters said. “We know from our previous tournament and Premier League Mornings Live events that we and our clubs have incredibly loyal and passionate fans in the U.S. who get up early to follow their teams during the season.
“In these four clubs we have world-class players and managers who will undoubtedly give supporters a fantastic Premier League experience just before the season starts.”
