New Man Utd CEO Omar Berrada profiled as Sir Jim Ratcliffe makes key appointment

20 January 2024 , 22:30

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe isn't wasting any time at Manchester United and on Saturday, his biggest statement yet sent shockwaves around the Premier League.

Despite the INEOS founder's £1.3billion agreement to purchase a 25 per cent stake in the club not yet being ratified, Ratcliffe and his colleagues from the petrochemicals company have been throwing their weight about and shaping the future at Old Trafford. When Richard Arnold left his role as United's CEO in November, leaving Patrick Stewart in charge on a temporary basis, INEOS were always expected to have a major say in who'd succeed him.

Major owners the Glazer family have given Ratcliffe license to run the football side of things at Old Trafford and Saturday's news that Omar Berrada - one of the most important figures within local rivals Manchester City's relentless winning machine over the past 13 years - is officially moving across town represents a major coup for United and signifies the British billionaire's intent on bringing the glory days back to his boyhood club.

But who is Omar Berrada? Mirror Football takes a look at United's soon-to-be CEO.

Born in Paris to Moroccan parents before going through the American school system, Berrada went from college dropout to football bigwig via a rather unorthodox route. After making the decision to drop out of a Massachusetts engineering college and study at EU Business School, Berrada lived in Barcelona for the final year of his three-year course.

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He loved life in Catalunya so much that he stayed there for over 15 years, earning roles with Honda and Italian internet provider Tiscali - and then none other than La Liga giants Barcelona. During his time at the Camp Nou, Berrada served as head of sponsorship from from January 2004 to August 2011, witnessing Pep Guardiola's dominant period as manager.

It was in 2011 when he joined City Football Group, who now control 11 clubs across five continents and later recruited Guardiola. His initial roles were as head of international business development as well two senior positions in sales and commercial. In 2016, the same year as Guardiola's appointment, the multi-lingual Berrada became CFG's chief operations officer which increased his power.

Viewed as imperative to City and CFG's success both on and off the pitch during his 13-year stay, Berrada was viewed as a candidate to eventually replace Txiki Begiristain as the Premier League champions' director of football. His switch to Old Trafford echoes Peter Kenyon's defection from United to join Roman Abramovich's Chelsea in 2003 shortly after the Russian bought the West London club.

Your turn! Will Omar Berrada make Manchester United great again? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

Omar Berrada made his name at Barcelona (PA)

City were, of course, last year charged with 115 counts of breaking the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. It's understood by Mirror Football that Berrada is expected to be a key witness when City defend themselves in front of an independent commission later in 2024. One would expect that Ratcliffe and Glazers did plenty of due diligence long before the announcement was made, and they'll have undoubtedly learned that Berrada is the man also credited for bringing Erling Haaland to City.

News of his appointment emerged on Saturday evening and within just over three hours United confirmed his arrival as well as noting that Berrada won't be making an immediate impact on things. A statement on the Red Devils' website read: "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.

INEOS chief executive Sir Jim Ratcliffe is making his presence felt at Old Trafford (REX/Shutterstock)

"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."

Earlier, City had confirmed his shock departure via a report from the Athletic, while also expressing their best wishes. "We can confirm that Omar Berrada has resigned from his role as chief football operations officer at City Football Group," the Treble winners said. "The club understands his decision to look for a new challenge and he leaves with our thanks and best wishes."

In typically bullish fashion, City sources maintain that they remain years ahead of United in a host of departments, most notably on the field of play. But Berrada's arrival, like Ratcliffe's, could foreshadow a turning of the tide.