Newcastle United's new Saudi owners are reportedly plotting a double swoop for Atletico Madrid's sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Diego Simeone, according to Spanish media. The Public Investment Fund (PIF), which completed its £305 million takeover of the club earlier this month, is said to view Berta as a key target for the sporting director role, with the hope that Simeone would follow him to St James' Park.
The Magpies are currently preparing to sack manager Steve Bruce, with reports suggesting the club is ready to pay £8 million to terminate his contract. However, the new hierarchy wants to secure a replacement before making the move. Assistant manager Graeme Jones could take temporary charge until the end of the season, but long-term plans are already being drawn up by the board.
Andrea Berta, 49, has been at Atletico since 2013 and has played a crucial role in the club's success, including two La Liga titles in the past seven years. Manchester United have also shown interest in the Italian, but Newcastle's owners are reportedly keen to bring him to Tyneside as part of their ambitious project. The report claims that the consortium first approached Berta in early 2020 during their initial attempt to buy the club.
Diego Simeone, currently the highest-paid coach in world football with an annual salary of £36.2 million, remains under contract with Atletico until 2024. Despite Newcastle's interest, the Argentine is committed to his long-term project at the Wanda Metropolitano and dreams of winning the Champions League with the club. However, the new owners are said to be hopeful that Berta's arrival could persuade Simeone to join the revolution in the North East.
Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley has already expressed concerns about the club's fight to preserve their Premier League status. The Magpies are expected to spend heavily in the January transfer window to bolster the squad and steer clear of relegation. The long-term vision includes building a team capable of competing at the highest level, with the Atletico duo seen as integral to that plan.
