Omar Berrada, who previously served as Manchester City's Chief Operating Officer and now serves as Manchester United's CEO, once responded to comments made by Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in 2019 regarding the club's transfer spending. The incident prompted Berrada to speak out enthusiastically, and his statement inevitably made headlines, leaving people wondering what had actually transpired. Now, with Manchester City embroiled in financial allegations, Berrada has maintained an unusual silence. Although Berrada himself has never been investigated or questioned by regulators, Manchester United fans continue to question whether owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's decision to recruit him was wise.

In the summer of 2019, the rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool had reached its peak. Manchester City had won the domestic treble. Liverpool narrowly missed out on the league title with 97 points the previous season but swept away the gloom by winning the Champions League.

Subsequently, Manchester City spent a then club-record £62.5 million to sign Rodri. In contrast, Liverpool only acquired the 16-year-old Harvey Elliott. During a preseason tour in the United States, Jürgen Klopp was asked about his team's squad depth and summer transfer activity, including new contracts.

"Everyone has to pay back debts, and we do too," Klopp said. "We invest money in our team, but at the moment it seems like nothing is happening. But we don't live in a fantasy world where we can get what we want and continue to invest without limits. Looking around the world, it seems like only four clubs can always spend huge amounts."

"Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain. They can acquire any resources they want, there's no comparison. That's reality. I'm not criticising. I know how people will interpret this and think I'm jealous. I'm not jealous at all! This season is not the end for Liverpool, and we will continue to be active in the next transfer market."

Consequently, before the Community Shield match, Klopp was taken aback seeing the headline "Stop talking about money."

To everyone's confusion at Anfield, the controversy was sparked by Omar Berrada, who was Manchester City's Chief Operating Officer at the time, speaking directly.

"We were a bit surprised," Berrada said at the time. "I don't understand why they make such comments, why they always focus on other clubs. It's not frustration or anger. It just feels strange that they always bring up our spending. There's nothing wrong with Liverpool's transfer spending."

He added further, "In fact, all top clubs invest according to their own plans. We don't pay attention to what other clubs are doing. Liverpool is a great rival."

The final statement lacked sincerity, like a bouquet of flowers bought at a petrol station convenience store on Valentine's Day evening at 10 p.m. Berrada did not need to go out of his way to express an opinion, but his strong statement undoubtedly poured oil on the fire.

"We want to overtake Manchester United"

But this week, Omar Berrada did not rush to speak. It is clear that if Manchester United's current CEO were to discuss the financial scandal surrounding his former club, where he worked for 13 years, the impact would be tremendous.

At this critical juncture, one thing must be clarified: among all the allegations leveled against Manchester City by the Premier League, Berrada himself has not been accused of anything, and he has never been held responsible throughout the entire legal proceedings.

It should also be noted that when the allegations were announced in February 2023 and the Premier League planned to question key figures at Manchester City, Berrada was not among the important individuals to be questioned.

However, that does not mean the public, particularly many Manchester United fans, do not scrutinize him. Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe recruited him and fellow former Manchester City executive Jason Wilcox from the "noisy neighbours" in January 2024, fans have watched him closely.

Berrada's football career began at Barcelona in 2004, during which he collaborated with Pep Guardiola, Ferran Soriano, and Txiki Begiristain. He joined Manchester City in 2011 and worked in the club's international operations department from their London office.

During this period, Manchester City grew at a remarkable pace. Long-serving employees found it incredible. The club needed offices in the capital in addition to their Manchester headquarters, and this advancing machine seemed unstoppable.

Shortly after Sheikh Mansour acquired the club in autumn 2008, marking the beginning of the Abu Dhabi era, Gary Cook, the then CEO, held a staff meeting with all employees in the Commonwealth Suite at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Cook made it clear to everyone: "We want to overtake Manchester United." Many in the audience exchanged puzzled looks, wondering how this could be achieved.

Cook subsequently presented various charts and outlined a roadmap that set the goal of surpassing Manchester United, Barcelona, and Real Madrid.

"I cannot comment on matters relating to my previous position."

Berrada was born in Paris to Moroccan parents. He was one of the new employees hired during the club's unprecedented large-scale recruitment drive, with new appointment notices flooding in daily. He quickly climbed the ranks, and by 2016 had become Soriano's deputy, overseeing Manchester City's day-to-day operations.

Berrada continued to be promoted. Therefore, Ratcliffe's decision to transfer the 48-year-old executive to a different team just five miles away and persuade him to lead Manchester United's rebuilding was regarded as a major success in talent acquisition. However, the results he has delivered so far have been unremarkable.

The storm surrounding Manchester City was destined to arrive sooner or later, and even if Berrada had never been investigated by regulators, was Ratcliffe's decision to recruit him wise?

This is a question worth debating, and Manchester United fans have raised this issue repeatedly over the past week during this turbulent period.

At a media briefing in September 2024, a journalist asked Berrada whether he would become embroiled in the Manchester City allegations.

"I cannot comment on matters relating to my previous position," he replied. "Right now I'm fully focused on Manchester United. We believe we have a strong foundation to continue growing and compete for titles without losses."

According to sources, when the journalist pressed further, asking whether Berrada was concerned about this affecting former Manchester City employees (there are several at Old Trafford and many at other Premier League clubs), Berrada simply shook his head.

He maintained his silence. When he does eventually speak (Berrada was one of several Premier League executives absent from this week's UEFA meeting in Copenhagen).

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

AI翻訳。

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