Omar Berrada, former Chief Operating Officer of Manchester City and current CEO of Manchester United, once rebutted Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp's comments about City's transfer spending in 2019. That incident raised questions about what exactly had transpired, as Berrada had been eager to speak out, and his statements inevitably made headlines. Now, with Manchester City embroiled in a financial case, Berrada is strangely silent. Although Berrada has never been investigated or questioned by regulators, Manchester United fans continue to question the wisdom of Ratcliffe's decision to hire him.

In the summer of 2019, the rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool reached fever pitch. Manchester City had won a domestic treble; Liverpool, having narrowly missed the league title with 97 points the previous season, bounced back by winning the Champions League.

Subsequently, Manchester City broke their club transfer record, spending £62.5 million on Rodri. In contrast, Liverpool signed only 16-year-old Harvey Elliott. During a pre-season tour in the United States, Jürgen Klopp was asked about his squad depth and summer transfer activity, including new contracts.

"Everyone has to pay their bills, and so do we," Klopp said. "We invest money in the team, and now it looks like nothing is happening. But we don't live in a fantasy world where we can get whatever we want and keep spending endlessly. Looking around the world, it seems only four clubs can spend big consistently.

"Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. They can get whatever resources they want, and that's not comparable. That's the reality. I'm not criticizing—I know how people will interpret it, thinking I'm jealous or something. I'm not jealous at all! This season is not the end for Liverpool; we will continue to be active in the next transfer window."

Thus, on the eve of the Community Shield, Klopp was surprised to see headlines goading him to "stop talking about money".

What left everyone at Anfield baffled was that this controversy was directly triggered by Omar Berrada, then Manchester City's Chief Operating Officer, who intervened to respond.

"We were a bit surprised," Berrada said at the time. "I don't know why they would make such comments, why they always focus on other clubs. It's not frustration or anger; we just find it strange that they always mention our spending. We have no problem with Liverpool's transfer spending."

He added: "The fact is that all top clubs invest according to their own plans. We don't pay attention to what others do. Liverpool is a great sporting rival."

That last sentence sounded like a bouquet hastily bought from a petrol station convenience store at 10 p.m. on Valentine's Day—lacking sincerity. Berrada didn't need to air his opinion, but his pointed statement undoubtedly poured fuel on the fire.

"We're going to overtake Manchester United."

Yet this week, Omar Berrada has been quick to hold his tongue. It's clear that if the current Manchester United CEO were to comment on the financial scandal engulfing his former club of 13 years, it would cause an earthquake.

At this critical juncture, one point needs clarifying: among all the charges brought against Manchester City by the Premier League, Berrada himself has never been accused of anything, and no liability has been attributed to him throughout the legal proceedings.

It also needs to be stated that when the relevant charges were announced in February 2023, and the Premier League planned to interview key Manchester City personnel, Berrada was not among those who needed to be questioned.

But that doesn't mean the public won't pay attention to him, especially a large contingent of Manchester United fans. In January 2024, after Sir Jim Ratcliffe recruited him alongside another ex-Manchester City executive, Jason Wilcox, from the club of "noisy neighbours", fans have been watching the pair closely.

Berrada's football career began at Barcelona in 2004, where he worked alongside Guardiola, Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain. In 2011, he joined Manchester City, working in the club's international business department at its London office.

During this period, Manchester City's growth was staggering. Long-serving staff found it hard to believe: the club needed an office in the capital in addition to its Manchester headquarters, and this unstoppable train seemed unstoppable.

In autumn 2008, shortly after Sheikh Mansour acquired the club and ushered in the Abu Dhabi era, then-CEO Garry Cook gathered the entire team for a general meeting in the Commonwealth Suite at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Cook boldly declared to everyone: "We're going to overtake Manchester United." Many in the audience exchanged confused glances, wondering how this could possibly be achieved.

Cook then presented several charts, meticulously detailing a plan to surpass Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"I cannot comment on matters from my previous role."

Berrada, born in Paris to Moroccan parents, was one of the new hires recruited during the club's unprecedented large-scale recruitment drive, with notifications of new appointments arriving daily. He rose quickly through the club's hierarchy, becoming Soriano's deputy in 2016 and overseeing Manchester City's day-to-day operations.

Berrada continued to receive promotions thereafter. So Ratcliffe believed at the time that persuading the 48-year-old executive to move to another team just five miles away to lead Manchester United's resurgence was a major recruitment coup. Yet his impact has been underwhelming so far.

The storm for Manchester City was destined to arrive sooner or later. Even though Berrada has never been investigated by regulators, was Ratcliffe's decision to hire him wise?

This is a question worth exploring, and Manchester United fans have raised it repeatedly over the turbulent past week.

At a press conference in September 2024, a journalist asked Berrada whether he would be implicated in the charges against Manchester City.

"I cannot comment on matters from my previous role," he replied. "I am now fully committed to Manchester United. I believe we have a solid foundation to continue growing and competing for titles without incurring losses."

According to sources, the journalist then asked whether he was concerned the case would affect former Manchester City employees. There are several ex-Manchester City staff at Old Trafford, and many more at other Premier League clubs. Berrada simply shook his head.

He remains silent. When he finally does speak (Berrada was among several Premier League executives who missed the UEFA meeting in Copenhagen this week),

one thing is certain: his statement will undoubtedly make headlines again.

Traduzido por IA.

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