Omar Berrada: New Manchester United chief executive says structure key to on-pitch success

Omar Berrada has been appointed as chief executive by Man Utd; he will arrive from Man City, where he was chief football operations officer; Berrada says structure is key to the team's success and warned overspending can lead to clubs finding themselves on a «slippery slope»

Sunday 28 January 2024 13:42, UK

Omar Berrada, Manchester United's new chief executive, says implementing the correct structure at the club is key to the team's success.

Berrada has also warned overpaying clubs, players and agents in the transfer market can lead to teams finding themselves on a «slippery slope».

United appointed Berrada from Manchester City, where he was chief football operations officer, earlier this month. The English and European champions have now placed him on gardening leave ahead of his move to Old Trafford.

United said Berrada's arrival was part of a plan to re-establish themselves as a «title-winning club», adding: «The club is determined to put football and performance on the pitch back at the heart of everything we do.»

The move came just weeks after Sir Jim Ratcliffe agreed to purchase 25 per cent of the club from the Glazer family — a deal that sees him take the lead on football decisions.

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Speaking to the Financial Times, Berrada — who spent more than a decade at City — said his previous employers' success was «by design, not by luck», explaining that, with an effective structure off the pitch, «success on the pitch will come».

Berrada — who was speaking before his move to United was confirmed — added: «Our job is to ensure that we've created a structure, this ecosystem around everything that we're doing now to make it as consistent as possible so when there