Omar Berrada has quickly become a key figure at Manchester United
Omar Berrada, chief-executive officer of Manchester United, looks on during a memorial service for the Munich Air Disaster ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on February 07, 2026 in Manchester, England.
Many Manchester United fans expressed their dissatisfaction with Omar Berrada(Image: 2026 James Gill - Danehouse)
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Manchester United have no plans to axe CEO Omar Berrada with any concerns around his position misplaced, according to reports. The former Manchester City chief football operations officer was the subject of fierce supporter protests before the 3-2 victory over Fulham.
A large number of fans gathered to demonstrate against the Glazer family, INEOS, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and senior officials like Berrada. He was appointed in January 2024, but has already made several huge decisions.
The businessman demonstrated his ruthless streak with the decisions to sack Erik ten Hag, Dan Ashworth - months after appointing him - and Ruben Amorim at the start of the year. Despite the costs of these decisions accumulating into the eight-figure mark, Berrada has remained in his post.
Berrarda holds the ultimate executive power alongside INEOS leadership Ratcliffe, but works closely with Jason Wilcox - who is largely responsbile for recruitment and long-term planning - to implement footballing decisions.
Considering the reported comments from other sources within Old Trafford, there is very little chance of Berrada leaving the club anytime soon. The Athletic claims people within the club do not expect Berrada to be given his marching orders, despite his former colleagues at City growing concerned he could find himself out of a job.
The 47-year-old was one of the first key figures to be brought into the fold by Ratcliffe, shortly after the petrochemical billionaire bought 27.7 per cent of the club.
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Even when he was on gardening leave at City, it's understood Berrada's fingerprints were all over the decision to sack Ten Hag - not long after retaining him - and the call to pay compensation to Newcastle United for Ashworth.
Away from the footballing decisions, Berrada was also the one who had to inform club staff that more redundancies were on the way, just six months after 250 personnel were made redundant. Berrada's reputation for slick commercial instincts and delivering lucrative sponsorship deals is outstanding.
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami looks on during a friendly match between Barcelona SC and Inter Miami at Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo on February 7, 2026 in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Berrada was labelled 'the Messi of the commercial world' when he was at City(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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So much so, City officials reportedly labelled him the Lionel Messi of the commercial world, according to the same report. He secured a £10million sponsorship deal with Nissan at City, which also included a 20 per cent purchase of Japanese top-flight side Yokohama F Marinos.
From a footballing standpoint, he has yet to impress United fans. While the decisions to sign Senne Lammens, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko have been bearing fruit under Michael Carrick, there was still ire aimed at him, Jason Wilcox and the hierarchy.
A fan of Manchester United wearing a jumper protesting against the clubs ownership, The Glazer Family, Ineos - Jim Ratcliffe, Director of football, Jason Wilcox and CEO, Omar Berrada ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on February 1, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom
Berrada's name was lumped in with the Glazers, Ratcliffe and Ineos during the recent fan protests(Image: 2026 Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA)
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In the summer, he and the rest of the United board face a huge decision in regard to their next permanent manager. As of right now, the decision on who will be the next manager to take over the reins at Old Trafford will be made at the end of the season.
Carrick has enjoyed an impressive start to his second temporary spell, recording victories over City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur as well as a draw against West Ham United. His next challenge is Monday's away trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium to face ex-United manager David Moyes.
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