Manchester United legend Gary Neville is impressed both by the appointment of Omar Berrada as the Premier League giants’ new CEO and the nature of the way the deal was completed.
Be honest, before the clock struck 4pm on Saturday afternoon, were you even remotely aware of Omar Berrada’s reputation as one of the smartest sporting and commercial minds in the sport?
But once it became apparent exactly who Berrada is, and just how much of a coup Manchester United had pulled off, the arrival former Man City and Barcelona chief was understandably being held up as a massive step in the right direction and a substantial statement of intent just weeks into the INEOS era.
Jolean Lescott, a two-time Premier League winner with City, feels the hire is a ‘masterstroke’. Rio Ferdinand claims to have been told by some at the Etihad that they ‘can’t beleive’ Berrada has been spirited away by their arch rivals.
Manchester United snatch Omar Berrada from Man City
“We don’t quite know what’s gone on at City (for Berrada to leave),” Neville tells Sky Sports of a man who had been earmarked to eventually replace Txiki Begiristain as the director of football at the Etihad Stadium, his sudden departure – to their bitter rivals no less – taking City by surprise.
“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.”
That has been the way of things since INEOS’ long-awaited minority takeover. In the blink of an eye, and without too much build-up or fanfare, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford are quietly and meticulously putting in place a board of genuine, ‘best in class’ footballing experts, Berrada joining Jean-Claude Blanc at Old Trafford.
Dan Ashworth, Newcastle’s highly-rated director of football, could yet join them.
‘Brilliant, amazing’
“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,” Neville adds, some behind the scenes at the Red Devils believing that Berrada’s arrival marks a major break away from the Glazer era.
“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.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
