Mikel Arteta, Diego Simeone and the parallels that convinced Andrea Berta to join Arsenal

Mikel Arteta, Andrea Berta and Diego Simeone Photos: Javier Soriano, Mike Hewitt, David Price/Getty; design: Kelsea Petersen/The Athletic Share articleAndrea Berta did not choose Arsenal lightly. Having parted ways with Atletico Madrid, the Italian sporting director had specific criteria for his next project. Arsenal fit the bill. London and the Premier League certainly held an appeal. The club were competing for major honours, and had the resources and ambition to invest in the market. But Berta was also aware of the critical importance of that primary relationship between sporting director and coach. In Mikel Arteta, Berta saw parallels with Diego Simeone, the manager he served for 12 years in the Spanish capital. “Well, obviously (Simeone) is someone that I look up to and learn from him in many situations and what is outstanding is his passion,” Arteta said before the two teams met in October. “I think for how long he’s been in the game and in the same club with the same players, how you still have that hand and that capacity to transmit such an energy and willingness to win.” Those with knowledge of both men say they are similarly obsessed by detail. Tactically, both managers have an emphasis on control and organisation. Their methods are distinct: Simeone typically favours the low block, Arteta focuses more on the press. On Wednesday, Simeone and Arteta meet in the Champions League semi-final. Berta will be witness to a clash between his current and former employers — and the two coaches with whom he has shared the closest collaboration. Arsenal did not choose Berta lightly either. After a thorough recruitment process, the club hierarchy determined that the former banker was the right man to succeed Edu as sporting director. Berta had experience, contacts, and was regarded as an uncompromising and shrewd deal-maker. His international network and capacity to build a picture of the market is excellent — even this week, he was spotted taking in a game at Galatasaray. Arteta and Simeone have exceptionally high standards, and are demanding of those around them. Having spent more than a decade working alongside ‘El Cholo’, Arsenal felt Berta would be well-equipped to satisfy Arteta. Berta was also a man in a hurry — which suited Arsenal. After 12 years in Madrid, he was on the look-out for a ‘win now’ project to crown his career with some of Europe’s biggest prizes. That aligned with Arsenal’s intentions for the summer. They needed someone who could deliver Arteta a title-winning squad, at short notice. Alongside the official interview process, Berta and Arteta courted more informally. Their conversations deepened Berta’s conviction that this was a coach with whom he could cooperate. While Arsenal refute any suggestion that Arteta is Berta’s boss, the Italian recognises that one of his major responsibilities is to provide Arteta with what he wants. The bonhomie between head coach and sporting director is, after all, frequently conditional. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Berta discovered that in Madrid. At one stage, Berta was very close to Simeone. When the manager came under pressure, Berta was a trusted ally, confidante and occasional peacekeeper. While there was never any explicit falling-out between the pair, their relationship did deteriorate as the years went by. Tensions simmered over recruitment decisions: signings such as Joao Felix, Marcos Paulo and Arthur Vermeeren failed to meet Simeone’s standards. The Vermeeren signing was seen by many as the last straw: the Atletico manager was demanding an experienced defensive midfielder; instead he received a callow winger. By the time Berta left Madrid in 2024, he was being squeezed out by an ever-expanding cast of bureaucrats. A degree of autonomy, then, was another appeal of joining Arsenal. Berta oversaw around £250million ($337m) of expenditure last summer. Eight first-team signings provided Arteta with his deepest squad to date. This month, Arteta credited Berta with identifying Cristhian Mosquera, the 21-year-old centre-half who has exceeded all expectations this season. “When Andrea (Berta) proposed the player, he knew him very well from Valencia. We started to analyse him, and we (realised we) needed a player of that profile,” said Arteta. “To ask him to sit in the Premier League at this level is one thing; to ask him to play in the three different positions, regardless of the opposition, it’s something else. He has been phenomenal.” While there is no doubt Berta’s signings provided Arteta with the depth he desired, there are question marks over some of the individuals. Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke have failed to make the expected impact. Despite his 18 goals in 2025-26, debate continues over whether the €73.5million (£63.7m; $86m) Victor Gyokeres is the right fit. Berta spearheaded Arsenal’s pursuit of Gyokeres. The club explored different options for the No 9 position, including holding talks over long-term target Benjamin Sesko. The sporting director held reservations over the cost of the Sesko deal — especially when factoring in salary, bonuses and commission. He would have proceeded with Sesko if instructed, but made plain he considered it a bad deal. In the end, Arsenal and Arteta aligned with his recommendation. Berta had very little preparation for last summer’s window. Arsenal had a plan, but a degree of improvisation was necessary. The Italian worked closely with Arteta and then vice-chairman Tim Lewis as the architects of Arsenal’s transfer activity. Lewis left the club abruptly in September, but Arteta and Berta remain close conspirators. Berta’s feet are now well under the desk: he is a frequent visitor to the dressing room and pitch-side area on match days. A February restructure saw technical director James Ellis leave — Arsenal’s new academy manager will instead report directly to Berta. Berta is committed to stay in London until 2028: when he joined Arsenal in March of last year, he signed a three-year deal. While his impact in London has attracted admirers at other big clubs, Berta is focused on preparing for the summer transfer window. There is no immediate sign of the Berta and Arteta relationship souring. Arsenal have signalled their intention to extend Arteta’s contract, which expires in the summer of 2027. Berta will hope to see those talks reach a positive conclusion: for the Italian, working in conjunction with Arteta remains one of the major appeals of life at Arsenal. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms