Spanish soccer skilled Guillem Balague advised BBC Sport: “He is fairly distinctive in comparison with different sporting administrators.
“He had no enjoying profession, began in banking, and solely bought into soccer later, first at Carpenedolo, an newbie membership, then at Parma and Genoa, the place he constructed key connections with Peter Kenyon and Jorge Mendes.
“Underneath his watch, Atletico received two La Liga titles (2013-14, 2020-21), a Copa del Rey (2013), a Europa League (2017-18), and a Uefa Tremendous Cup (2018).
“He is seen because the architect of the squad rebuild after the 2014 title-winning staff light.”
Working with supervisor Diego Simeone, Berta helped Atletico make some astute acquisitions throughout that rebuild.
France striker Griezmann was signed from Actual Sociedad for £24.8m in 2014 and 5 years later was bought to Barcelona for £103m. Atletico then purchased him again in 2021 for simply £16.5m.
Spain midfielder Rodri, now a Ballon d’Or winner, was signed for £16.5m in 2018 and bought to Manchester Metropolis the next 12 months for £62.5m, whereas Slovenian goalkeeper Oblak signed from Benfica in 2014 for simply £13m. He is now broadly thought to be among the finest goalkeepers on the planet.
Extra just lately, ahead Julian Alvarez joined from Manchester Metropolis final summer season for £81.5m and he has scored 23 targets for Atletico this season.
“He introduced in key gamers like Griezmann (twice), Luis Suarez, Kieran Trippier, Llorente, De Paul, and Julian Alvarez,” added Balague.
“However he additionally had some flops, like Joao Felix, Kalinic, Arias, Torreira, however he all the time labored throughout the membership’s monetary limits.
“In whole, he made 52 signings since 2017, spending round 828 million euros (£692m), leaving an enormous mark on Atletico’s squad. An finish of an period for them.”
