Inside Omar Berrada's appointment as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's influence becomes clear

22 January 2024 , 10:08

498     0

Inside Omar Berrada's appointment as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's influence becomes clear

Omar Berrada will join Manchester United as their new chief executive in a major early coup for the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era.

There are a number of notable roles at Old Trafford that remain vacant but Berrada will fill one of those, bringing with him a host of winning experience and know how. He resigned as chief football operations officer at City Football Group to take up the role on the red half of Manchester.

It was one of Ratcliffe's right-hand men, Ineos’s Sir Dave Brailsford, that first made an approach for the City chief. A meeting with Ratcliffe followed, according to the Daily Mail, which highlighted how much of a say the billionaire would have despite only purchasing 25 per cent of the club.

A summit which involved the Glazers then occurred before the move was confirmed. The BBC reports that Berrada will start in his new role in the summer, with his exit being described as amicable.

Ratcliffe is determined to make United, the club he has always supported, a success once more. Under the Glazers' ownership that club have been unable to challenge since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2013. A period of underachievement has followed despite huge sums being spent.

Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash

The Ineos chief has been involved in other successful sporting outfits and a statement regarding Berrada's arrival included a subtle reference to the neglect faced by footballing operation. It read: "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."

Omar Berrada has been confirmed as Manchester United's incoming CEO (Paul Currie/BPI/REX/Shutterstock)

Berrada reportedly agonised over his decision to swap blue for red given the success achieved at the Etihad when compared to the operation at Old Trafford, where they've only won once trophy since 2017. City have seen United's pursuit of one of their senior figures as a compliment, which underlines their status as one of the best run of all the big clubs across Europe.

Not since Carlos Tevez in 2009 has a major figure moved across Manchester, be it on the pitch or off it. The wealth at City has allowed them to become the country's premier outfit and, despite spending similar sums in the transfer market, a lack of competency, leadership and strategy have undermined their neighbours' efforts.

Samuel Meade