Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Manchester City insiders have been left ‘shocked’ by the news that Omar Berrada will defect to become the CEO of their rivals Manchester United.
Ratcliffe has been a more prominent figure around Old Trafford of late, after his £1.3billion deal to purchase a 25 per cent stake in the football club had been ratified.
Berrada joined Man City back in 2011, but he’ll now take on a bigger role at United and will replace Richard Arnold. Mail Sport understands his departure from Man City was amicable and that he will now sit on the board at Man United.
But according to Ferdinand, the statement move from United’s new owners could be more important than securing a new player in the January window.
Rio Ferdinand believes Omar Berrada’s appointment as Man United’s new CEO could be one of their ‘best January signings’
The 46-year-old’s move across the divide had also reportedly left some Man City insiders ‘shocked’, Ferdinand claims
‘I spoke to some guys at City and they can’t believe we’ve got him,’ he told his podcast FIVE on Monday.
‘They think like “wow”. He’s done so much in the game at different levels. And he’s been succeessful. And it’s a really good, sharp signing for us.’
‘I think this could potentially be one of our best January signings. In the current climate we are in now, especially.’
Berrada had also helped to facilitate deals for Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish during his time at Man City.
After joining from Barcelona in 2011, he would work his way up the ladder, starting as one of their heads of international business development. He would later go on to become the senior vice president and commercial director for City Football Marketing.
He became Man City’s chief operating officer back in 2016, before becoming the COO for the entire City Football Group which operates 11 clubs across five continents.
Berrada, joined City back in 2011 and was pivotal in helping the club sign Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish
His appointment was largely driven by new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS
Speaking on his acquisition, a United statement 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.
‘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.’
