By Federico Calabrese
Follow us on social media to stay up to date with the latest transfer news: Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Index
A new chapter begins at Atlético Madrid. On the Atlético side of Madrid, an era has come to an end. Andrea Berta, a long-time executive at the Spanish club, has decided to pursue new challenges to continue his distinguished managerial career. But under his leadership, what exactly did Atlético Madrid achieve?
Who is Andrea Berta
Born in 1971, Andrea Berta began his career in Italy before arriving at Atlético Madrid. In 2013, he was appointed technical director, and four years later he was promoted to sporting director after achieving significant results in both sporting success and in enhancing the club’s overall value.
His transfer dealings
Andrea Berta personally oversaw around 100 transfer operations, both incoming and outgoing. One of his most notable successes was the signing of Antoine Griezmann. The French forward was bought from Real Sociedad for about €30 million, became a club icon, and was later sold for approximately €120 million — generating a €90 million profit.
Another remarkable operation was the transfer of Rodri, now a Ballon d’Or contender with Manchester City. The Spanish midfielder was discovered and signed from Villarreal for €20 million, then sold to Manchester City for €70 million.
Other key signings include Jan Oblak, brought in from Benfica for €13 million and still a key figure in Diego Simeone’s squad. Luis Suárez also stands out — signed from Barcelona for less than €7 million, the Uruguayan striker played a decisive role in winning the La Liga title that same season.
Finally, Berta was also the main driving force behind the signing of Julián Álvarez, acquired from Manchester City for a total fee of €95 million.
The end of an era
Berta combines traditional scouting with data analysis, much like Damien Comolli, who has recently joined Juventus. His balanced approach led to sustainable deals and a keen focus on generating profits, contributing to Atlético’s consistently healthy financial position.
Though the era has come to a close, Andrea Berta will always be remembered as one of the key architects of Diego Simeone’s story at Atlético Madrid.
By Federico Calabrese
