Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has played down the importance of Manchester United’s appointment of Omar Berrada as their new CEO.
City and United both confirmed Berrada’s move to Old Trafford last week and he will take up his role in the summer after a period of gardening leave.
Berrada is the first major appointment by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has agreed to buy 25% of United and his INEOS group will take over the football operations.
HITC understands that Berrada’s main focus at United will be commercial and business operations, although he will also play a role in the footballing side – although the plans are still very much focused on bringing a sporting director type, with Dan Ashworth the main target, and also a head of recruitment.
Suggestions have been made that Berrada played significant roles in some of City’s biggest deals, but Guardiola played down suggestions of the importance of one appointment.
Reality
Speaking ahead of the weekend’s FA Cup clash with Tottenham, Guardiola said of Berrada’s move: “Obviously his knowledge goes to United, that’s the reality.
“When you buy a player from another club you buy the knowledge that this player has had in the past with other managers and team-mates. That is normal.
“We learned a lot from Omar and he’s learned a lot from the club, and now he’s gone to United.
“But Kevin De Bruyne is still in Man City, De Bruyne will play here. Erling Haaland will play here, so in the end it’s not that simple. Otherwise, with the power of United, they would have done it before.
Doubts
“Maybe United think with this person everything is going to change – congratulations. I don’t know if this is going to happen.
“If it does happen then, oh my God, they have to make a stand for Omar Berrada in the future because he’d deserve it.
“He is a lovely person, an incredible character, incredible professional. Yesterday, I saw him, we hugged, and I wished him all the best.”
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