One of Omar Berrada’s first big tasks as Manchester United’s CEO may be to decide on the future of Erik ten Hag at the underperforming Premier League giants.
With Richard Arnold gone already and with John Murtough perhaps set to follow him out the door, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover of Manchester United is already sparking a tidal wave of changes behind the scenes at Old Trafford. And not a moment too soon.
And with new (co)owners comes new pressure. New expectations and new demands. Ratcliffe and co have barely wasted an opportunity to remind everyone and anyone that INEOS’ underlying ambition is to drag Man United back to the summit of English and European football, with it up to Erik ten Hag to prove that he can lead the pilgrimage.
According to The Telegraph, the Red Devils’ new CEO – former Manchester City and Barcelona chief Omar Berrada – will be tasked with making any decision on Ten Hag’s future alongside Man United’s director of football, whoever that may be.
Omar Berrada’s first big Manchester United task
The report adds that Ratcliffe hopes to get a director in place in a matter of weeks. Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth – who did such sterling work behind the scenes at Brighton and with The FA – is understood to be the leading candidate. Paul Mitchell could arrive alongside Ashworth, albeit in a more specific, recruitment-driven role.
Berrada, viewed as one of the sharpest minds in the game no just in the commercial side of things but the sporting side too, will likely act as a bridge between the manager (be it Ten Hag or someone else) and those now pulling the strings in the Old Trafford boardroom.
INEOS were expected to take control of footballing operations at United. According to The Athletic, however, their remit has already increased, now covering some of the business decisions which were expected to remain at the whims of the Glazers.
Erik ten Hag under pressure
Berrada, who’s appointment from down the road at the Etihad raised eyebrows throughout the Premier League, feels emblematic of a new beginning on the red side of Manchester. Emblematic of a club who, after years of accepting mediocrity, are once again setting their sights firmly on the best in class.
Hence their pursuit of Ashworth, their interest in Mitchell, and the uncertainty hanging over a manager who, before the 4-2 FA Cup victory over Newport County, had lost more games than they had won in 2023/24.
“It’s deemed a very good signing by Manchester United,” Gary Neville tells Sky Sports of Berrada.
“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.
“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,” the legendary right-back 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
