Arsenal Close to Landing Napoli Scout Maurizio Micheli in Key Recruitment Move

Arsenal are in advanced talks to bring Maurizio Micheli from Napoli into a senior recruitment post. The move, led by sporting director Andrea Berta, represents another major step in reshaping Arsenal’s backroom structure since Edu’s departure earlier this year.

Micheli, 57, has a strong reputation in Italy for finding talent. His expected arrival would reunite him with Berta, who has made strengthening Arsenal’s recruitment setup a clear priority since joining from Atlético Madrid in April. The addition follows the promotion of James Ellis to technical director and the exit of Jason Ayto, who had served as interim head of recruitment.

Micheli’s Proven Eye for Talent

He has worked in Italy for over twenty years, with roles at Udinese, Brescia, Hellas Verona, Bologna, and two periods at Napoli. During that time, he discovered or helped recruit several players who went on to have significant careers.

At Udinese, he was involved in identifying Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari, both of whom became key figures in European football. At Brescia, he identified Marek Hamsik early and helped start the move that took him from Slovakia to Serie A. Hamsik later became Napoli’s all-time leading scorer and one of Serie A’s standout midfielders of his generation.

At Napoli, Micheli played a central role in the squad-building work behind the club’s title season. Working alongside multiple sporting directors, he helped build the team that won Serie A for the first time in 33 years. That group included defender Kim Min-Jae and winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, both scouted under his leadership.

Method: Data, Video, and First-Hand Assessment

In Italy, Micheli’s reputation extends beyond traditional scouting. Former Roma director Stefano Caira once described him as a “guru” in selecting players, capable of blending analytics with an instinctive understanding of player development.

Micheli is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, and his approach combines modern data tools with personal observation. He has spoken publicly about the importance of video analysis and software that tracks positional data, but he still values in-person scouting and direct interaction with players, agents, and families.

Reports describe a heavy travel schedule for live scouting before the pandemic, reflecting a strong work ethic. His commitment to understanding a player’s life off the pitch aligns closely with the culture Mikel Arteta and Berta have been building at Arsenal.

What It Means for Arsenal

The expected appointment fits into a broader evolution of Arsenal’s football operations. Under Berta, the club has aimed to combine the analytical depth of continental recruitment models with the character-driven approach that defines Arteta’s management style.

Arsenal’s most recent transfer window reflected that balance, bringing in players such as Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres—signings that merge data-backed value with personality fit. Micheli’s arrival could strengthen that process further, adding deeper reach into European markets and improving the identification of emerging talent before their prices surge.

His past signings show consistent results. His experience working with both established stars and lesser-known prospects makes him a valuable addition as Arsenal look to maintain a sustainable approach to squad building while staying competitive at the top of the Premier League.

A Measured Step Forward

It adds to Arsenal’s push for a stable, repeatable approach to player recruitment.

If the deal is finalized, Micheli will join an organization already defined by structure and collaboration. For a club that has learned to build rather than chase, his blend of data, detail, and human understanding fits perfectly into the direction Arsenal continue to pursue.