Manchester United to appoint Omar Berrada from Man City as new chief executive

Manchester United are set to land a major coup by appointing Omar Berrada as their new chief executive, with the Spaniard resigning from a role at Manchester City to take up the post.

United have been on the hunt for a new chief executive since Richard Arnold decided to stand down before INEOS acquired a 25% stake in the club, with the new minority owners looking for someone with a background in football.

That search led them to Berrada, who has been chief football operations officer at City for the last three-and-a-half years and has spent nine years in total at the Etihad. He also spent nearly eight years at Barcelona, where he was primarily head of sponsorship.

A City statement said: “Manchester City Football Club can confirm that Omar Berrada has resigned from his role as chief football operations officer at City Football Group.

“The club understands his decision to look for a new challenge and he leaves with our thanks and best wishes.”

Berrada has left City with immediate effect and isn't serving his notice or being placed on gardening leave.

The decision to appoint someone who is steeped in football as well as business is a change of direction at Old Trafford under Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Since the departure of David Gill in 2013, the Glazers had appointed Ed Woodward and Arnold as chief executives and both had a banking background. Patrick Stewart has been the interim chief executive since Arnold stood down.

It is understood Berrada agonised over the decision to leave City, having played such a pivotal role in building the club up alongside director of football Txiki Begiristain and, since 2016, Pep Guardiola. The club haven't yet decided whether to replace him, with chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, chief executive