Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Omar Berrada as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer hours after leaving The Red Devils noisy neighbour Manchester City.
Berrada who served as City’s Chief Football Operations Officer after holding a senior role at Barcelona will permanently replace Richard Arnold who left Old Trafford last November as United’s head of legal Patrick Stewart has stepped in on an interim basis.
“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. He is currently serving as Chief Football Operations Officer for City Football Group overseeing 11 clubs across five continents and, prior to this, held senior roles at Barcelona.
“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.
“Omar’s start date will be confirmed in due course; in the meantime, Patrick Stewart will continue as interim CEO.”
Berrada joined City from Barcelona in 2011, where he worked alongside City Football Group’s CEO Ferran Soriano and City Director of Football Txiki Begiristain.
The trio are credited with City’s development into a slick commercial operation off the field that has helped contribute to the club’s success during Pep Guardiola’s reign as manager.