Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta intervened to stop the club from signing Benjamin Sesko last summer, according to a report from The Athletic, with the striker instead joining Manchester United in a deal worth up to £73.7 million. Sesko, then 22, moved from RB Leipzig to Old Trafford, while Arsenal pivoted to sign Swedish international Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP for £64 million. The decision, which has shaped the attacking lines of two Premier League rivals, was driven by Berta's financial reservations over the Sesko package.
The Athletic reports that Arsenal held talks over a move for Sesko, a long-term target, but Berta spearheaded the pursuit of Gyokeres instead. The sporting director is said to have held significant concerns over the total cost of the Sesko deal, factoring in the transfer fee, salary, bonuses, and agent commissions. While Berta would have proceeded with the signing if instructed by the club's hierarchy, he made it plain he considered it a bad deal. In the end, manager Mikel Arteta and the club aligned with Berta's recommendation to pursue the more experienced Gyokeres.
This context sheds light on the contrasting strategic approaches taken by the two clubs in the 2025 summer window. Manchester United invested heavily in the potential of Sesko, a highly-regarded young talent who had impressed in the Bundesliga. Arsenal, under Berta's guidance, opted for Gyokeres, a player in his prime at 27 who had just come off a prolific season in Portugal. The different profiles of the signings reflect the immediate needs and long-term planning of each team at the time.
In the 2025/26 campaign, the outcomes of these decisions have begun to unfold. Gyokeres has scored 18 goals and provided two assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal, with 12 of those goals coming in the Premier League as the Gunners challenge for the title and Champions League. Sesko, adapting to life at Manchester United, has netted 11 times and registered one assist in 31 matches, with 10 of his goals coming in the league. While direct comparisons are complicated by differing team dynamics and roles, the early returns show both players contributing to their respective sides.
The revelation underscores the influential role of sporting directors in modern football's transfer market, where data, financial prudence, and squad-building philosophy converge. Berta's intervention prevented a significant outlay on a younger, less proven asset, redirecting Arsenal's resources towards a player deemed a safer, more immediate fit. For Manchester United, the signing of Sesko represented a major investment in a cornerstone for the future under the INEOS regime, a bet on elite potential that they will hope pays dividends in the coming seasons.
