Exclusive: Arsenal in 'very advanced talks' to agree senior hire

Arsenal’s appointment of former Atletico Madrid sporting director Andrea Berta is all but done, sources have told Football Insider.

The Gunners are in “very advanced talks”, sources say, to finalise the 53-year-old Italian’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium.

It is believed only small details are outstanding as Arsenal put the finishing touches on a key appointment.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been without a sporting director since Edu’s departure from Arsenal in November – following five years at the club.

Arsenal’s Berta appointment all but done

The Brazilian left the Emirates Stadium to join the network of clubs spearheaded by Evangelos Marinakis, owner of high-flying Nottingham Forest.

Berta left Atletico Madrid in January after 12 years with the Spanish giants.

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He has also had spells with Genoa and Parma in Italy and was linked to a return to his homeland with AC Milan, but is now set to take the sporting director role at Arsenal.

Position Team Played Points GD

1 Liverpool 28 67 40

2 Arsenal 27 54 28

3 Nottingham Forest 27 48 11

Premier League title race (as of 06/03/2025)

The transfer guru oversaw the signings of Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher last summer (2024) – his final transfer window before departing Atleti.

Berta makes the move to Arsenal with the club set to record three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League.

Football Insider revealed on Wednesday (5 March) that Yossi Benayoun held talks with Arsenal about the becoming the club’s new sporting director but no offer was made.

Arsenal

Berta is set to replace Edu, who left Arsenal in November 2024.

Arsenal fans turn on Mikel Arteta

As per Football Insider, Arsenal fans have begun to turn on Arteta after dropping behind in the Premier League title race and being eliminated in the FA Cup and League Cup.

The Gunners have a chance of winning silverware this season as they remain in the Champions League, a trophy the club have never won.

Arsenal will take a six-goal lead into the round of 16 second leg against PSV after beating them 7-1 in the Netherlands this week.

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