On Saturday, 20 January, the Premier League was taken aback by a significant surprise when Omar Berrada, the chief of football operations for Manchester City, made the announcement of his move to rivals Manchester United. This move marks the first major action by INEOS, the new shareholder of United.
Manchester United has made a significant addition to their team by appointing Omar Berrada as their new CEO. Berrada, who previously served as the chief of football operations at Manchester City, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. He played a crucial role in the success of both Barcelona and Manchester City under the guidance of Pep Guardiola. This appointment marks the first major move by United’s newly acquired shareholders, Jim Ratcliffe and his company, INEOS. Their decision to bring in Berrada demonstrates their commitment to shaping the future of the club. In a statement, Manchester United expressed their confidence in Berrada’s leadership abilities and his dedication to driving positive change within the organization.
Omar Berrada has been appointed as the new CEO of the Red Devils, filling the position that had been empty since November 2023 when former United CEO Richard Arnold resigned. In the interim, United’s Legal head Patrick Stewart had been overseeing the role. United’s official announcement stated that this decision was made with the intention of revitalizing the club’s footballing success.
Manchester United has expressed their clear objective of restoring their status as a championship-winning club. The club is delighted to announce the addition of Omar to their team, as he will play a crucial role in attaining this goal. This will enable United fans to witness the red flag soaring proudly at the pinnacle of English, European, and global football, just as Sir Matt Busby envisioned. The exact commencement date for Omar will be announced in the near future, while Patrick Stewart will continue serving as the interim CEO during this period.
Berrada, who previously served on the Barcelona board during the Pep Guardiola era, began his tenure at Manchester City as the commercial director. He then progressed to the position of chief operating officer and eventually assumed the role of chief football operations officer in 2020. His contributions to City’s recent success, including their treble in the 2022-23 season, have garnered significant praise. Manchester United’s statement regarding Berrada’s appointment clearly indicates the club’s intention to emulate City’s successful formula and restore United as a title-winning club.
Following the announcement of Jim Ratcliffe and his company INEOS becoming United’s new 25 percent shareholders, former Juventus CEO Jean-Claude Blanc was strongly linked to the CEO position at United. Manchester City confirmed Berrada’s departure in a statement and extended their well wishes for his future at United. It is understood that Berrada will commence his role as United’s CEO in the upcoming 2024 summer season.
“The club acknowledges his decision to seek a new challenge, and he departs with our gratitude and best wishes.” Manchester City’s statement on Berrada.
Manchester United’s current football season has been disappointing, with a seventh-place position in the Premier League table and eliminations from both the Carabao Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Their remaining opportunity for silverware this season rests on the FA Cup, where they are scheduled to face Newport County, an English fourth-tier club, in the fourth round. Therefore, this announcement brings a glimmer of hope for both United’s players and their fans, signaling a brighter future ahead.