Manchester United Set to Appoint Ex-Man City Chief Omar Berrada as New CEO
Manchester United is reportedly poised to name Omar Berrada, the former chief football operations officer at Manchester City, as their new CEO. Berrada’s departure from City has been confirmed by the club, paving the way for his move to their cross-town rivals.
The 20-time English champions have been on the lookout for a new CEO since Richard Arnold’s exit, and it was widely expected that Jean-Claude Blanc would take up the role. However, with Blanc’s involvement likely to be centered around the incoming minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the position is now set to go to Berrada.
The Athletic reports that Berrada is expected to arrive from Manchester City as the new chief executive and will also assume a position on the board of directors at Old Trafford. His close collaboration with City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, including active involvement in transfers and contracts, has earned him a strong reputation.
Manchester City released a statement acknowledging Berrada’s departure, saying, 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.
Prior to his tenure at Manchester City, Berrada held various influential positions at Barcelona, including senior media business development manager and head of sponsorship. His significant contributions have been credited with the club’s recent success.
Patrick Stewart has been serving as Manchester United’s interim CEO following Arnold’s departure; however, it is understood that he was never in contention for the permanent role.
BBC Sport reports that Berrada’s official arrival at Old Trafford will take place over the summer. Despite the fierce rivalry between the two clubs, his departure from Manchester City has been described as amicable.
Berrada is believed to be the top choice of incoming minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is expected to secure Premier League ratification of his 25% purchase of Manchester United within the next four weeks. Ratcliffe is assuming control of the football department at Old Trafford and is rumored to have significant changes planned due to the club’s struggles over the past decade following Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
In conclusion, Manchester United is set to bring in Omar Berrada, the former chief football operations officer at Manchester City, as their new CEO. Berrada’s arrival is expected to bring a fresh perspective and help steer the club towards future success.
