“Easy wins…” – Omer Berrada told first steps needed at Manchester United as CEO

Manchester United’s new CEO Omer Berrada has been told to start off his career at Old Trafford with some ‘easy wins’ by Gary Neville.

Berrada, 45, will take charge at United at the end of the season after it was confirmed on Saturday evening that he would become the club’s new chief executive.

The Reds have been looking for someone for the role since Richard Arnold left the club late last year and have managed to snatch City Football Group’s chief football operations officer.

However, Berrada has already been warned that his environment at Old Trafford will not be so similar to what he’s been used to at Manchester City.

Whilst Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are aiming to bring a more defined and best-in-class football structure, it is not there yet and the former Barcelona man is the first addition to that team.

There will be significant hurdles for Berrada as he looks to improve a department that has ultimately failed miserably under the leadership of Ed Woodward and Richard Arnold. However, former club captain Gary Neville believes there are some ‘easy wins’ which coule help him settle into his new job.

Speaking on The Gary Neville podcast, Neville explained: “It’s a big job being CEO for Man United, when you think of all the things he has to go at. But there are also some pretty easy wins straightaway.

“Communication is really important, to have that voice that the club haven’t had for the last 10 years. He can form part of a new management structure that can build trust with the fans, us and everybody that watches.

“They’ve not had someone who has operated in football for a long time and that’s important, but it’s a big task and all eyes are going to be on him. He’s obviously had a brilliant, amazing grounding at Man City and Barcelona, two of the most successful clubs over the last 15 years.”

Neville was also complimentary of the way United went about the appointment in a different way than usual.

“We don’t quite know what’s gone on at City, but there’s a pathway that would be needed for everybody – at every club – as he’s probably two or three down the chain at City and wanted to see a pathway to the top,” he added.

“Maybe that wasn’t there. But it’s deemed a very good signing by Manchester United.

“What I did like about it, is that it was almost stealth, in the sense it wasn’t a massive build-up over a few months that dragged out. It just happened so quickly and I like that about it.”