Arsenal’s new sports director signed Rodri for £ 16.5 million

Arsenal has reached an agreement with Andrea Berta to become their new sports director, understands talk sports.

Gunners has searched for a new transfer guru after EDU’s end in November.

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EDU had spent five years at Emirates Stadium after returning to the club in 2019.

Temporary Sports Director Jason Ayto had been a candidate for the role with former Gunner’s midfielder Tomas Rosicky.

Former Manchester United sports director Dan Ashworth was also linked to the role that had suddenly left Old Trafford in December.

However, Berta is ready to be handed over to the job.

The Italian had been linked to 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 page won six trophies including two Laliga titles and the Europa League.

It is his transferability that has caught his eye, however, after a series of high -profile offers in the Spanish capital.

Berta ended the signing of Rodri at £ 16.5million from Villarreal in 2018.

After 47 performances, the midfielder was sold to Manchester City for £ 58million a year later.

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Andrea Berta’s remarkable signings

• Antoine Griezmann: 2014 and 2021 (Real Sociedad and Barcelona) – £ 24.8m and £ 16.5 million.
• Rodri: 2018 (Villarreal) – £ 16.5 million
• Luis Suarez: 2020 (Barcelona) – £ 5.5 million
• Jan Oblak: 2014 (Benfica) – £ 13m
• Marcos Llorente: 2019 (Real Madrid) – £ 35m
• Kieran Trippier: 2019 (Tottenham) – £ 20m

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Rodri has continued to win 11 trophies with the 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, which will not defend their Premier League title and have been knocked out of the Champions League.

Berta also monitored the sale of Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona for £ 99million in 2019 before signing him for £ 18million four years later.

His notable signings also include Joao Felix, Kieran Trippier, Luis Suarez, Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher.

After starting his career in his original Italy with Carpendolo, Berta has also worked with Parma and Genoa in the past.

He was also named ‘Sports Director of the Year’ at the Globe Soccer Awards back in 2019.

The award is also won by former Tottenham director Fabio Paratici and the outgoing city manager Txiki Begiristain.

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