Arsenal Insider understands that Arsenal’s move to land Napoli scouting chief Maurizio Micheli is being described as a huge coup and could emerge as Andrea Berta’s best signing of 2025.
The Gunners’ sources have confirmed to us that they have reached an agreement to bring Micheli to the Emirates Stadium, and the deal will be confirmed this week.
Arsenal fans are loving Berta’s work in North London, and he is now set to pull off another deal which will delight Mikel Arteta.
Micheli has done a stellar job in Naples, helping Napoli win two Scudetto titles through many top-level signings at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Sources: Maurizio Micheli turned down Juventus for Arsenal
Andrea Berta has not only convinced Maurizio Micheli to leave Italy, but also to reject the chance to join Juventus in favour of Arsenal, sources have told Arsenal Insider’s transfer expert Graeme Bailey.
Micheli has become a legend at Napoli for the players he brought to the club during his two stints there.
Berta has made some superb additions at Arsenal already, like Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke, but this could be his best addition to date.
A high-ranking source with knowledge of the deal, who asked to remain anonymous, told Arsenal Insider: “The club can’t quite believe that Andrea Berta has landed Maurizio Micheli.
“This guy is a near legend; he is up there with the likes of Real Madrid’s Juni Calafat and PSG’s Luis Campos in terms of his standing in the game.”
Maurizio Micheli’s best Napoli signings
Micheli is regarded as one of Italy’s top talent spotters and is credited with tying up the deal to bring Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Napoli from Georgian football.
Micheli, 57, is in his second spell in Naples, having spent five years with the club up to 2015 before returning as their head of scouting in 2018.
| Player | Reported fee |
| Kalidou Koulibaly | £6m |
| Marek Hamsik | £5m |
| Kim Min-jae | £17m |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | £10m |
Kalidou Koulibaly, Marek Hamsik and Kim Min-jae are among his top signings at the Italian giants.
“Kvaratskhelia, Hamsik and Kim are just some of the names he has uncovered. He has been a key figure in Napoli’s successes and now the hope is he can make a significant contribution to Arsenal,” Bailey told Arsenal Insider.
“Andrea Berta pulled off some huge deals back in the summer, but long-term this could turn out to be the best.”
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
