“The correct decision…” Omar Berrada explains Man City strategy that will change Manchester United

Omar Berrada has previously explained a key transfer strategy at Manchester City that will benefit Manchester United under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Omar Berrada has joined Manchester United as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS continue to make waves after the British billionaire’s acquisition of 25 per cent of the club.

Berrada will replace Richard Arnold as the new permanent CEO at Old Trafford, with the Spaniard set to transform the club’s strategy both in football and in business.

Read More: Cristiano Ronaldo responds to accusation that he became “lost” at Manchester United

Prior to his appointment at United, Berrada played a significant role at both Barcelona and Manchester City, with him having a huge impact on the success of City in the last decade, especially under Pep Guardiola.

One key part of his strategy at City is making sure that their money is spent wisely, which he explained in 2020 when asked about why the club let Harry Maguire move to Manchester United for £80 million despite their interest.

“In terms of Harry Maguire, we have shown very clearly over the last few seasons that we will only go for a transfer if we feel it is the right valuation,” he told The Athletic in 2020. “So we look at the player’s quality, age, experience, and what he can bring to the team and then decide the correct valuation.

“If we feel it’s the right one, we will do it. If not, we will walk away from the deal and look for other candidates. But at the same time, if we walk away from a certain deal, it doesn’t mean we necessarily have to go for another player to fill that position. We will only get the players that we feel will improve our squad and make a significant contribution.”

United have become rather infamous for over-paying for players in the last decade, with many pointing to the purchases of Antony and Maguire as obvious evidence of this. Berrada’s strategy of making sure clubs never overpay will help United spend more wisely in future, which will be a key part of the club becoming successful once again.

The club themselves released a statement on Saturday evening explaining their thought process behind Berrada’s appointment.

“Manchester United is pleased to announce the appointment of Omar Berrada as its new CEO,” 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.

“As one of the most experienced football executives at the top of European football, Omar brings a wealth of football and commercial expertise, with a proven record of successful leadership and a passion to help lead change across the Club. He is currently serving as Chief Football Operations Officer for City Football Group, overseeing 11 clubs across five continents and, prior to this, held senior roles at Barcelona.
 
“It is our stated ambition to re-establish Manchester United as a title-winning club. We are pleased that Omar will be joining us to help achieve that goal, so that, once again, United fans can see, in the words of Sir Matt Busby, the red flag flying high at the summit of English, European and world football.
 
“Omar’s start date will be confirmed in due course; in the meantime, Patrick Stewart will continue as interim CEO.”