The summer window is heating up. Arsenal have already wrapped up three signings, lost their top target Morgan Rogers to Chelsea, and still aren’t done spending. At the centre of it all? A former Italian banker who doesn’t sleep.
Andrea Berta doesn’t negotiate like most sporting directors. He doesn’t chase one player and pray it works out. Instead, he runs multiple deals in parallel — talking to several clubs for the same position at once.
Why? It’s simple. Selling clubs and agents never know if their guy is Arsenal’s first choice. That uncertainty kills their leverage. And Berta won’t budge on price.
Sources close to the club describe him as a “machine” who gets to the training ground early and stays late. He flat-out refuses to pay above what Arsenal believe a player is worth.
It’s a far cry from the panic-buy energy that haunted the club in past windows.
From Banking to Building Squads
Berta’s story doesn’t start on a football pitch. He spent his early career in finance at a small Italian bank before a phone call from a local businessman lured him into the lower leagues of Italian football.
He worked his way up through Carpenedolo, Parma, and Genoa. But it was 12 years at Atletico Madrid that made his name. Under his watch, Atletico signed the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Jan Oblak, and Rodri.
They also won two La Liga titles, the Europa League, and reached two Champions League finals — all while operating on a fraction of Real Madrid’s budget. The nickname “Milagroso Berta” stuck for a reason.
Arsenal co-owner Josh Kroenke called him “an impressive figure” with “vast knowledge of the game.”
How the Strategy Looks Right Now
Berta’s approach is already shaping Arsenal’s summer. Here’s what’s happened so far:
- Piero Hincapie signed permanently from Bayer Leverkusen after a successful loan
- Illan Meslier arrived on a free transfer from Leeds United
- Christos Tzolis agreed a £34m move from Club Brugge to replace Leandro Trossard
- Trossard himself was sold to Besiktas for around €20m
The Tzolis deal is a classic Berta move. The Greek winger made it clear he only wanted Arsenal, despite interest from Newcastle. That desire drove the price down. Smart.
But the bigger story? Morgan Rogers.
Arsenal had been working on a deal for the Aston Villa and England star for weeks. Fabrizio Romano confirmed the Gunners had made strong progress on personal terms. Villa slapped a £130m price tag on him, and Berta was trying to negotiate it down.
Then Chelsea swooped. David Ornstein reported that a £117m verbal agreement was reached, with Rogers choosing Stamford Bridge over the Emirates. Xabi Alonso’s project at Chelsea was reportedly the deciding factor.
It’s a genuine setback. But Berta’s parallel-deal approach means Arsenal aren’t left scrambling.
What Comes Next for Arsenal
With Rogers gone, the spotlight shifts to other targets. Bradley Barcola at PSG is a name that keeps surfacing. The French winger has two years left on his contract, which could make him cheaper than Rogers would’ve been.
However, Romano recently said Arsenal haven’t made a formal check on Barcola. Liverpool are also firmly in the mix.
Other names to watch:
- Julian Alvarez at Atletico Madrid remains a priority striker target
- Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle is on the midfield radar
- A centre-back may be needed after William Saliba suffered a back injury during France’s World Cup semi-final loss to Spain
Arsenal aren’t panicking. That’s Berta’s influence. His whole philosophy is built around patience and options. If one door closes, another is already half-open.
It won’t always be flashy. Fans might find the process frustrating at times. But Berta’s Atletico track record speaks for itself.
He built title-winning squads without the biggest budget in Spain. Now, with Arsenal’s Premier League champions resources behind him, the expectation is clear. Don’t overpay. Don’t rush. And always have a Plan B.
This window is far from over.
