Man United considering shock move for transfer guru credited with Atletico Madrid’s recruitment revival

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Manchester United are considering a surprise name for the role of sporting director at the club, following a mixed time with John Murtough in the role.

John Murtough became the club’s first football director in 2021 but has had a rather tepid time in the new role, which demands perfection from the off, especially at a club like Manchester United.

The man who was once named United’s ‘fixer’ by Ed Woodward has struggled in his job with the infamous images of Murtough and Richard Arnold arriving in Barcelona trying to convince Frenkie De Jong to join the club etched in fans’ brains.

Well, according to reports, it seems United are targeting a fresh face for the football director role.

Atletico Madrid transfer guru targeted

The report from The Independent states that Andrea Berta is currently under consideration from chiefs at Old Trafford.

The Italian has earned a strong reputation in the game for bringing shape to Atletico’s previously haphazard recruitment and United have reportedly been interested in him before.

Interestingly, the report states that Murtough would remain in his role at United even if Berta was appointed at the club.

However, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint Germain are said to be interested in the Italian guru, so United may well need to get a move on if they are interested in the Italian.

Berta’s background

The Italian has been in Spain with Atletico for the past decade, where he served as technical director for four years through two Champions League finals, before being promoted to sporting director in 2017.

He has been credited with solving the Spanish side’s recruitment problems and a move for the Italian may well be exactly what United needs to enact some sense of control and planning of transfers at Old Trafford.

It’s fair to say the Italian has had a hand in some of the superb deals.

Diogo Jota (now at Liverpool) from Pacos De Ferreira for £6 million, Rodrigo De Paul (£30m) from Udinese and Matheus Cunha (£21m), now at Wolves, are just some of the names Diego Simeone’s side have signed under Berta’s watch.

Despite Murtough reportedly set to stay if Berta was appointed, that could come into question if United’s poor start to the season, on his and Erik Ten Hag’s watch, continues and may well force the club to look in a different direction.