Arsenal’s search for a new sporting director finally came to an end.
The Gunners looked long and hard to fill Edu Gaspar’s shoes at the Emirates Stadium, and a number of names were linked with the job.
However, Andrea Berta was announced as the new sporting director recently after he beat several other candidates to land that role.
But, before the Gunners settled on Berta, there was another sporting director they really liked, but he was impossible to get.
Arsenal eyed Simon Rolfes before Andrea Berta
Arsenal explored all the options they had before they decided to hand Berta the job.
Edu had his flaws, but he did a great job at the Emirates and was the one who started the current project with Mikel Arteta. So, the Gunners couldn’t just appoint anyone to replace him.
Reports previously claimed that Arsenal had five sporting directors on their list – Dan Ashworth, Berta, Roberto Olabe, Thiago Scuro and Edu’s old assistant Jason Ayto.
Arsenal Insider revealed in November that Arsenal liked Simon Rolfes. Now, The Sun has backed our claim and said that many inside the club wanted him before Berta.
The 43-year-old is the managing director of sport at Bayer Leverkusen, where he helped Xabi Alonso build a side that won the Bundesliga title last season.
The report claims that Rolfes had many admirers on the Arsenal board, and he was one that ‘piqued their interest’ while they were talking to candidates about replacing Edu.
But, Rolfes had ‘no intention’ of leaving Leverkusen for Arsenal and plans to stay in his current role at least until his contract ends in 2028.
What Arsenal privately feel about Andrea Berta after appointing him?
Rolfes would’ve been an exciting appointment, but Berta is right up there too.
The Italian spent over a decade at Atletico Madrid and helped the Spanish giants beat Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga. That is a phenomenal achievement.
That is why he has been brought in to the Emirates, and the report claims that ‘Arsenal are convinced that Berta is a game-changing recruit in their pursuit of major silverware.’
The 53-year-old has started working at Arsenal ahead of the summer window, and it is because of him that links to Viktor Gyokeres have emerged.
Berta has met with Nico Williams’ agents too, and there is progress being made in the deals to sign Joan Garcia and Martin Zubimendi as well.
It’s still early days, but all signs suggest that Arsenal have made the right appointment.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
