Man Utd dealt blow as Sir Jim Ratcliffe discovers start date for Omar Berrada
Manchester United have landed a huge blow in their bid to close the gap on rivals City by convincing Omar Berrada to quit the Etihad to become their new chief executive.
Berrada has agreed to take the top job at Old Trafford after almost 13 years working on the opposite side of town, eight of them as the champions’ chief football operations officer. But Mirror Football understands he will have to serve a notice period that means he is unlikely to start work at United until the 2024-25 season has kicked off.
Berrada, a Spaniard who is fluent in five languages, has been at the heart of City’s rise to become the Premier League ’s most dominant club. Sir Jim Ratcliffe will view his appointment as a massive coup.
Ratcliffe has promised to make United great again after spending £1.3billion to secure a 25 percent stake in the club he supported as a boy and has taken charge of football operations. Berrada’s defection will be felt by both clubs.
He played a significant role working alongside chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain to broker transfers in and out of the club as well as negotiating contracts.
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He previously spent eight years working for Barcelona in a commercial role before joining City as a director of football marketing. City’s own website describes him as an individual who “has a track record in negotiating complex and innovative partnerships with leading brands and companies.”
So Berrada will be able to call on an extensive contacts book in both the football and commercial world to grow United both on and off the pitch.
Mirror Football understands that the appointment has been made by Joel and Avram Glazer in consultation with Ratcliffe. It is also understood United wanted to move quickly to put a new CEO in place.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will view his appointment as a massive coup (PA)United’s statement said: "Manchester United is pleased to announce the appointment of Omar Berrada as its new CEO. The Club is determined to put football and performance on the pitch back at the heart of everything we do.
"Omar’s appointment represents the first step on this journey. As one of the most experienced football executives at the top of European football, Omar brings a wealth of football and commercial expertise, with a proven record of successful leadership and a passion to help lead change across the Club.
"He is currently serving as Chief Football Operations Officer for City Football Group overseeing 11 clubs across five continents and, prior to this, held senior roles at Barcelona. It is our stated ambition to re-establish Manchester United as a title-winning club.
"We are pleased that Omar will be joining us to help achieve that goal, so that, once again, United fans can see, in the words of Sir Matt Busby, the red flag flying high at the summit of English, European and world football. Omar’s start date will be confirmed in due course; in the meantime, Patrick Stewart will continue as interim CEO."
City confirmed his departure in a statement which read: “ Manchester City Football Club can confirm that Omar Berrada has resigned from his role as chief football operations officer at City Football Group. The club understands his decision to look for a new challenge and he leaves with our thanks and best wishes.”
Berrada will be able to call on an extensive contacts book in both the football and commercial world to grow United (PA)Senior City sources insisted it will be business as usual at the Etihad despite the change at executive level. They have developed a powerhouse business that is first in class, both in terms of player recruitment and commerce.
There is sadness that they have lost such a popular employee to their biggest rivals. But City remain confident that Soriano and Begiristain, working in tandem with manager Pep Guardiola, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and managing director of global football Brian Marwood will not be significantly weakened.
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Berrada is expected to be a key witness when City defend themselves in front one an independent commission after being accused by the Premier League of 115 counts of breaking their profit and sustainability rules.
He has been at the heart of the City Football Group operation, both on the football and commercial side of the club. It is unlikely that United would recruit an individual whose reputation would be tarnished if the allegations were proved.
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