Manchester United are set to appoint the City Football Group’s Omar Berrada as their new chief executive, after Richard Arnold left the club last year.
United announced Arnold’s departure last November ahead of INEOS chairman Jim Ratcliffe purchasing a 25 per cent stake in the club, in a deal which was confirmed by the Red Devils on Christmas Eve.
With Ratcliffe set to assume full control of United’s football operations, the club appointed general counsel Patrick Stewart as interim chief executive as the search for Arnold’s successor began.
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On Saturday, The Athletic reported United were set to pull off a surprise move by appointing Berrada, who will take executive leadership of both the football and business sides of the club as well as sitting on the board of directors.
It was initially thought that INEOS representative and former Juventus chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc was a leading candidate for the role, but Berrada’s arrival will be viewed as a major coup for United.
He worked as Barcelona’s head of sponsorship before joining City in a commercial role in 2011, then was promoted to the position of chief operating officer in 2016.
Winter days at the Theatre 🏟️❄️#MUFC PIC.TWITTER.COM/E3TYENFXC2
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) JANUARY 18, 2024
Berrada has since worked closely with City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain on transfers and contracts, playing an influential role in the deal to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
A widely reported statement issued by Manchester City said: “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.”
Reports said Berrada will officially begin his new role at the end of the season, with Ratcliffe still awaiting regulatory approval from the Premier League for his part-takeover to be completed.
