Andrea Berta’s top five signings at previous clubs – and why Arsenal fans should be excited | OneFootball

Arsenal are reportedly very close to bringing in former Atletico Madrid sporting director Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, and the Italian has an impressive eye for transfers.

He left Atletico in January after 12 years at the club and has been linked with a host of clubs, including AC Milan, but it now looks like he is heading to London.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that Arsenal and Berta have reached an agreement for him to join the club with contracts being finalised.

He also worked at Italian clubs Parma and Genoa before moving to the Spanish side and helped to secure some superb signings at all three clubs.

Here are some of the best signings he has helped to make in his career…

Leonardo Bonucci: Inter to Genoa (€4m)

Leonardo Bonucci at Juventus (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Signing a 22-year-old Leonardo Bonucci for €4 million Euros is undoubtedly one of Berta’s highlights. The centre-back went on to become one of the best defenders of the modern era, becoming a Juventus legend as well as registering 122 caps for Italy.

Bonucci won 15 major trophies in his career, including the Serie A title nine times and a European Championship with Italy.

Jose Gimenez: Danubio FC to Atletico Madrid (€995k)

Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Similar to Bonucci, Berta helped to sign Jose Gimenez at the start of his career, and the Uruguayan became one of the best centre-backs in world football. Signing him for less than a million euros was an absolute steal, as he has gone on to play 348 times for the Madrid side, winning La Liga twice.

He is still just 30-years-old and a regular start for Diego Simeone. He has played 92 times for his country, and despite not leaving Atletico in the 12 years he has been there so far, several years ago he was valued at close to €90 million.

Jan Oblak: Benfica to Atletico Madrid (€16m)

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Jan Oblak is one of the best goalkeepers of all-time, considered alongside the likes of Manuel Neuer and Thibaut Courtois over the last 10 to 15 years. He has been at Atleti for 11 years, played 481 times, and was named player of the season when Atletico won La Liga in 2020/2021.

He has won Slovenian football of the year four times, and the Zamora Trophy, a Spanish award that recognises the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-to-games ratio in La Liga, five times.

Antoine Griezmann: Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid (€30m)

Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Griezmann is in the history books of Atletico Madrid as one of the best players to ever play for the club. The Frenchman has played for Atléti 429 times, scoring 197 goals in the process.

His list of impressive individual accolades includes being on the Ballon d’Or podium twice, in 2016 and 2018, when he finished third both times. He was the Euro 2016 top scorer, as well as winning player of the tournament for the same competition. He was also man of the match in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final.

Rodri: Villarreal to Atletico Madrid (€20m)

Rodri playing for Atletico Madrid (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) via ONE FOOTBALL

Signing a future Ballon d’Or winner in Rodri for €20m is brilliant business, and he was later sold to Manchester City for €70m.

If his Ballon d’Or in 2024 wasn’t enough to prove his quality, how much Man City have struggled in his absence certainly has been. Pep Guardiola’s side have been knocked out of the Champions League and been unable to defend their Premier League crown.

The Spaniard also won the Euro 2024 player of the tournament, and his list of team trophies include the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and four Premier League titles with Manchester City.