Omar Berrada coup heralds the beginning of the end of Glazer rule at Manchester United

Manchester City are ahead of United in almost every sector and that is also the case in comms.

Those who know Omar Berrada says he is comfortable in the limelight, so he is bound to have revelled in the attention he generated on Saturday night.

City were first to react to the news Berrada was crossing the city divide. The champions quickly framed a flattering narrative even though United had poached a time-served and vital employee. City conceded they are sorry to lose Berrada but it is validation they are the best-in-class at football operations.

United have pulled off a rare coup and had an open goal. They missed it. A puff of smoke did not emerge from Old Trafford until 9.30pm on Saturday, not an optimum time for online news and possibly too late to make first editions.

READ MORE: United explain Berrada appointment

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Berrada speaks with the MEN

Their 187-word statement does mark a significant departure at hierarchical level. While Ineos await regulatory approval, co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer remain the power brokers. United sources say there was "consultation" with Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

But this is Ratcliffe's appointment. He has not settled for an in-house Glazer stooge and instead head-hunted someone synonymous with success rather than failure.

Collette Roche, the United chief operating officer, has admirers. But as the old fanzine Red Issue once said, Roche “oversaw the descent of Manchester Airport from one of Europe’s best in the early 2000s to a £-obsessed embarrassment (sound familiar?)”. The new chief executive had to be an external hire.

However much some may stress this is technically a Glazer move, it is not remotely theirs. Read the statement back. Do you think they approved the