Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada has a big job on his hands trying to restore England’s greatest football club to its former glories.
Arriving at Old Trafford after a successful spell at Manchester City, as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover, Omar Berrada has not shied away from the workload he faces.
Berrada was part of the decision-making process to sack Erik ten Hag last season before Ruben Amorim became head coach. That led to a difficult first six months for the Portuguese coach at Manchester United, but there is hope that Ineos will ensure he has an improved squad to work with next season.
United have signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves in a deal worth £62.5 million, but that fee will be paid in instalments to ease costs this summer. The Brazil international turned down opportunities to join clubs competing in Europe to switch from Molineux to Old Trafford.
The next target to emerge is Bryan Mbeumo after scoring 20 goals for Brentford in the Premier League last season. It is understood that the Red Devils are preparing a second bid in their pursuit of the Cameroon international.
Only time will tell if United’s new signings make a desired impact on a team that lost the Europa League final and finished 15th in the Premier League.
The aim for next season is to get back into the Champions League because it can be difficult to land primary targets when the team is not competing in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Omar Berrada at Web Summit 2024
Photo by Rita Franca/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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It is something Ineos are trying to address by changing the club’s strategy to transfers.
United under Ineos are thus far prioritising young talent, but this summer we could see a shift towards targets with Premier League experience, as seen with Cunha and Mbeumo.
One obstacle United may face is being turned down by players who are only interested in joining a club that is playing in the Champions League.
Respected journalist Andy Mitten spent some time with Berrada at Old Trafford last week and put the question to United’s CEO.
Berrada informed the United We Stand editor that he was only interested in signing players who want to join United because they believe in the club.
“I met the CEO, Omar Berrada, last week at Old Trafford and asked him if it was difficult to attract new signings, given the perception of United as a club in decline and not having Champions League football to offer,” Mitten revealed in an article for The Athletic.
“He shook his head, adding that he was interested in recruiting players who want to join United because they believe in the club, not whether they were in Europe’s elite competition.
“He said that wasn’t difficult and if they didn’t want to come because the team aren’t in the Champions League, United probably don’t want them anyway.”
United remain one of the biggest clubs in the world, but Berrada will hope the signings made this summer can take the team to the next level.
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There are two transfer targets linked to United who are dominating the headlines.
They include Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Mbeumo.
Gyokeres is frustrated with Sporting’s stance amid interest from United, Arsenal and Juventus.
Meanwhile, Mbeumo appears to be a work in progress. United will hope Tottenham don’t hijack the deal after appointing Thomas Frank as their new manager.