Who is Andrea Berta? The award-winning sporting director tipped to replace Dan Ashworth at Manchester United

Manchester United are yet to decide whether or not they will look for a direct replacement for sporting director Dan Ashworth after he left the club just five months into his role.

United had identified the 53-year-old as their sole candidate to become the new sporting director but took the 'difficult decision' to part ways at the weekend, with club sources insisting the final decision was a mutual one among all parties. If United do indeed decide to directly replace Ashworth in the role, the they will need someone who is more aligned with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with friction reported between the co-owner and the former sporting director.

Atletico Madrid sporting director Andrea Berta has already been linked with a possible switch to Old Trafford and here is everything you need to know about him:

Name: Andrea Berta

Age: 52

Current role: Atletico Madrid (Sporting director)

Berta took his first sporting director role with Italian side AC Carpenedolo in 2002 and then joined Parma in a similar role five years later. He lasted two years in the position before moving to Serie A side Genoa in 2009.

He took a four-year break from football before being appointed technical director of Atletico Madrid. Berta has already announced he is set to leave Atleti at the end of the season, having worked for the club for 11 years. He has held the role of sporting director since 2017, having initially joined the La Liga giants as a technical director. During his time in Madrid, he has worked closely with manager Diego Simeone and helped the club win two La Liga titles, a Spanish Super Cup, a Europa League and a UEFA Super Cup.

Back in 2019, Berta was named the sporting director of the year at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, to 'represent the acknowledgement of the great work he has done for Atletico Madrid since 2013.' He was also named as the 'protagonist' who signed Joao Felix from Benfica and for selling Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona and Rodri to Man City.