Maurizio Micheli: Why Arsenal are hiring transfer expert described as ‘human algorithm’ | OneFootball

Italian who is renowned for unearthing stars is in talks to join recruitment team at Emirates Stadium

Micheli discovered Marek Hamsik, who went on to become a Napoli legend

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Discovering Hamsik made Micheli’s name, but he has continued to unearth stars since then - most notably Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

That eye for talent has now led to Arsenal holding talks with the 57-year-old about joining their recruitment team.

The Gunners have undergone a period of change over the past year following the resignation of sporting director Edu.

The Brazilian was replaced by Andrea Berta in April and he is keen to add to his recruitment team after assistant sporting director Jason Ayto left in May.

Matteo Tognozzi, formerly Juventus’ head of scouting, was among those considered in the summer, but all signs now point to Micheli being appointed to a senior recruitment role.

He will join a team that includes James Ellis, who was promoted from head of recruitment to technical director last summer, and Mark Curtis, who became head of football intelligence after previously serving as assistant head of recruitment.

Micheli arrives with a glowing reputation in Italy, where he is regarded as one of the finest talent-spotters around.

“I bow to the analysis of Maurizio Micheli, who, for me, is a guru in selecting and knowing players,” said Stefano Caira, a former Roma director.

Micheli also discovered Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, scoring here for PSG in last season’s Champions League final

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“There isn’t a single player Maurizio signs whose parents, boyfriends, and so on he doesn’t know. He’s a human algorithm, capable of implementing this strategy for years now.”

Micheli has more than 20 years’ experience in Italian football, first spending spells at Udinese and Brescia.

He initially joined Napoli in 2010 and stayed for five years before moving to Hellas Verona and Bologna.

Micheli returned to Napoli as head of scouting in 2018 and since then they have won Serie A twice.

The 57-year-old is considered far more than a scout, regularly meeting agents, directors and players. As well as Italian, he is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Micheli is renowned for his use of data and during a talk at the Football Master Universita del Calcio he explained the importance of video and analytics when scouting players.

In one example, Micheli described software developed to analyse a player’s position in greater detail - differentiating, for instance, between a centre-back playing in a back four or a back three.

Micheli, however, combines that data-driven approach with a strong belief in the human side of football. It speaks volumes that he is still in touch with Hamsik more than 20 years after they first met.

Like Berta, he takes a keen interest in understanding a player’s life off the pitch.

Micheli values meeting people in person and watching players live, too. Corriere dello Sport once reported that he spent around 200 days a year travelling on planes before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

That is another trait he shares with Berta - and with Mikel Arteta - with Micheli said to possess an outstanding work ethic.

The trio could now be united in north London as the evolution of Arsenal’s recruitment department continues to gather pace.