Inside Arsenal chief Andrea Berta's Galatasaray trip with Viktor Osimhen transfer mediator

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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and newly-appointed recruitment chief Maurizio Micheli attended Sunday's Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

It's understood the Italian duo were guests of transfer mediator and agent George Gardi, who was captured on video escorting the pair through crowds towards their seats at RAMS Park.

Sources have refused to disclose the primary motive behind the trip but inevitably, reports in Turkey have since speculated that Arsenal are showing keen interest in a number of Galatasaray players ahead of the summer window.

The obvious assumption, which remains unconfirmed at this stage, is that Berta is eyeing a potential big-money swoop for Nigeria international striker Viktor Osimhen, who netted his side's opener in their 3-0 demolition of their Turkish Super Lig rivals.

Gardi has helped Gala broker numerous transfers over the past few years as a consultant and was central to the shock £65 million (€75m) permanent capture of the 27-year-old frontman from Napoli last summer following a highly successful loan spell.

He also has strong links to Italian football and was involved in the deals that saw Lucas Torreira, Mauro Icardi and Lucas Torreira sign with the Turkish giants.

Micheli, who started work at Arsenal in late 2025 after leaving his role as Napoli's head of scouting, is an associate of Gardi, according to well-informed sources.

Back in 2019, Micheli was among the key driving forces behind Napoli's deal to sign Macedonian midfielder Eljif Elmas from Fenerbahce and Gardi helped the transfer over the line, later posing for a picture alongside Carlo Ancelotti at the new arrival's unveiling.

Gardi also handled the contractual negotiations that saw Dries Mertens join Galatasaray on a free transfer from Napoli in August 2022 and looked after Marek Hamsik's professional affairs during his iconic spell in Naples.

Intriguingly, Micheli also has strong links to Galatasaray frontman Osimhen. He was physically present in Lille, France in 2020 when the Nigerian formally penned his Napoli contract and was one of several decisive figures behind the deal, worth up to £69.30 inclusive of bonuses.

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That of course, does not necessarily mean a transfer to Arsenal is on the agenda, even though the Premier League leaders plan to strengthen their attacking options at the end of the campaign.

It's anticipated that sales could well prove imperative as the club seek to maximise their spending power following a record £263m splurge last summer.

If Berta had his way, sources close to Arsenal make no secret that Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez would be the Italian's dream target of choice having previously brought the player to the Wanda Metropolitano from Manchester City in 2024.

The Gunners and Liverpool were also interested in signing Alvarez, who they face tomorrow in the Champions League semi-finals, at the time.

Barcelona are now believed to be in pole position for the Argentine and there are doubts about whether the 26-year-old would be willing to return to the Premier League, which he won twice in two seasons with City alongside the Champions League, FA Cup and Club World Cup, respectively.

Atletico would also like to extend Alvarez's contract meaning there are several notable hurdles that could prevent Arsenal from pursuing a transfer.

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That's partially why the element of mystery surrounding Berta and Micheli's trip to Istanbul feels topical but in reality, it would be incredibly complex for any European club to prise Osimhen away from Galatasaray in the coming months.

Back in November, intermediary Gardi intimated that the player was happy and settled in Istanbul and he envisages Osimhen staying put for the foreseeable future.

The explosive centre-forward earns in excess of £13m per season, excluding potential bonuses. It's a monstrous salary that would immediately place him inside the bracket among the Gunners' top-earners.

On top of that, Osimhen is entitled to a yearly £870,000 (€1m) loyalty bonus and his image rights are said to be worth up to £4.3m (€5m).

Chelsea technical staff and lawyers previously encountered huge problems attempting to sign Osimhen from Napoli in August 2024 when they could not agree the terms of a long-term contract with the forward.

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