Andy Mitten, a journalist of the authoritative sports portal The Athletic, spoke about communicating with Omara Berrad, in which he learned about the results of the first year of the Frenchman as a club’s CEO, the difficulties that he collided and much more.

I first met Omar Berrad in the mid-2000s when he worked in Barcelona. It was then highly valued for the ability to turn the Catalan popularity into profit. Although the club was still far inferior to Manchester United and Real Madrid. His reputation was so strong that in 2011 he was invited to Manchester City. For the last time, he saw Bars live in the 2011 Champions League finals at Wemib – just against United – before moving to England.

In City, Berrad quickly proven itself in both commercial and football directions. And in January 2024, Manchester United offered him the position of CEO-and he agreed without hesitation.

On June 2, we met at an office for Old Trafford, where he works in a spacious OPCENPII. We spoke for 70 minutes – it was his first great interview since the destination. After defeat in the Europa League Final from Tottenham in Bilbao, I felt as much as possible as a fan United. But after this conversation, he left the room with hope. Berrada is well aware of how difficult the path will be, but he has a clear vision and extensive football experience to understand what success looks like.

Below is the main thing of our conversation and my brief analysis of his words.

Why he believes in Ruben Ammonia Berrada explained the logic of the invitation of Ruben Amorim in November – it was the decision of “technical people”, because “this is not my field of responsibility.”

He acknowledged that changing the trainer in the middle of the season is always risky. But the club viewed it as an investment in the future: “We wanted to give Ruben time to better understand the team, the club and the Premier League itself.”

“Now, in June 2025, we have already passed all the discussions-what we need a composition that we have for two to three years to build a team capable of winning the Premier League.”

“We have a clear roadmap. If Ruben started working only on July 1, 2025, we would not have the experience and knowledge he gained during these seven to eight months. Yes, he suffered from the Premier League, and the team also. But that is, in my opinion, it would be the basis for a future breakthrough.”

I asked if he reminded him of this situation with Pep Guardiol, which was also not easy in the first season in City after his arrival in 2016-five years after Brad himself.

“Yes, absolutely,” – replies Berrad. – “PEP remained true to its principles, and thanks to everything he won earlier, had a great credit of trust. He was allowed to pass the first season not at his level. His club was supported that summer, the team began to win – and so the foundation of the victorious cycle was laid, which lasted until this season.”

“The worst is already behind” Last season, Old Trafford received mostly alarming news-massive staff cuts, 18 lesions in the Premier League, a general depression around the club. The mood remained gloomy.

Berrad named his first 11 months as a storm and acknowledged that he did not expect such a failed season in the APL. But at the same time, he is convinced – the worst has passed, and everything will start to change.

“We have already taken all short -term pain this season. And this summer, the worst will be left behind,” he says. “We will stabilize management, coaching staff, with a technical team around it.”

“In the football plan, too, everything has become clearer – we understand which players we want to invite what football should play, how we will integrate the students of the Academy, where we will invest to find the talents of the future.”

“Sitting here now, I’m really very optimistic. Of course, we need to make many right decisions. And we will be wrong.

“We can win the title by 2028” One of the main landmarks of Brada was the Project 150 project, a set of goals that the club should reach its 150th anniversary in 2028.

It covers both outfutball tasks – for example, to go in a plus financially – as well as sports. Berrad wants United Women’s team to win its first female superliga in the next three years and the male-the Premier League.

Is it real? “Of course,” he replies confidently. – “Yes, we have just finished fifteen, and it can sound like a fantasy. But why not strive for it? Why not do everything in our power?”

Berrad speaks with experience. In 2004, when he came to Barcelona, ​​the club was in crisis. The Catalans finished the second after Valencia, flew from the Spain Cup in the quarterfinals, and instead of the Champions League were forced to play in the UEFA Cup – where they lost to self -self in the fourth round.

Then the situation on Camp Nou also seemed hopeless. But in two years Bars became the champion of Spain and Europe. It is this transformation that gives the hope for the revival of United.

“I sincerely believe we can do it,” Berrad says. -“We have two or three summer transfer windows to gather a warehouse capable of fighting for the title of Premier League. If we can do it before-we will only be glad. But that does not mean that we are not trying to win by that time.”

Transfers and why kuna is a canton-style Berrad assured that United would be active in the transfer market this summer. However, as it should be expected, he did not make any promises about specific amounts or names.

He emphasized that between the head coach Ruben Amorim and the football director Jason Wilcox is full of understanding, and the vision of the formation of the composition is clear. At the same time, Berrad admitted that some players will still leave the club to bring the finances.

“Due to the reduction of the costs of this year, we have prepared the soil for quality work,” he explained. “I am sure that after the transfer window we will have a composition that is much stronger than that we now have.”

Berrad also expressed a great admiration for the only newcomer today – Mateus Kunya, who went from Volverhampton for £ 62.5 million. According to CEO, he has features that resemble one of the club legends.

“This is a player whom fans will love,” he said. “You can talk about his technique, that he can play in three positions – it is an attacking player, capable of both hammering and giving up goal.

“It was a very important signing. And we’ll do everything to decorate a few more transfers as soon decision”.

Apology to workers and fans The season was unsuccessful not only on the field but also beyond.

There were two rounds of staff cuts at the club: in September (then about 250 people were released) and one more – immediately after the end of the season. In that first meeting with Berrad’s employees, he assured that there would be only one reduction. He later acknowledged that he was wrong and publicly apologized to the team.

“At that time, we simply did not imagine how critical the situation was in the club’s finances,” he explained. “There are many things that need to be controlled. It is not only financial fair-play, but also cash flows, and the ability to work at our own expense-this is what they demand from us.”

“We are a big club, and we must be able to work with profit. The way it was in the past: to win trophies. It is quite possible – to be stable successful both on the field and outside it.”

Reduction is just one of the dark spots last season for United. Another is the scandalous decision to cancel preferential tickets in the middle of the season. This meant that young people and pensioners were forced to pay £ 66 for entrance. Additionally, many ancient owners of subscriptions in the southern tribune were transplanted by freeing up spaces for VIP.

When I noticed Beri that the policy with £ 66 was failed and hurt more than it was beneficial, he replied:

“I admit that the implementation of this decision was unsuccessful. I raise my hand. If you come back to the very essence of the decision – a proportion of people who actually affected it was very small. But we explained it badly. And they did too quickly – even in the middle of the season. It was a lesson, and we will do everything.”

“After that, we actively work with the Fanat Council – and I must say, the conversations were frank. They sharply criticized some of our ideas, including those we wanted to embody, and we listened.”

As for protests through transplanting from the southern tribune, Berrad says:

“We understand their disappointment. But they are sure that these decisions were made in the interests of the club, even if they were not popular.”

Who is he? Omar Berrad is a very smart person. His father was a professor of economics, and his mother worked at UNICEF at the UN. He speaks five languages ​​and lived in five countries.

He notes that it can distinguish “football basics” from those who are really worth something – and this ability will be useful in the coming years. At the same time, he understands the importance of peace and weighing.

He, he said, is a very good relationship with Sir Jim Retcliff, the club co -owner and the founder of Ineos:

“We communicate quite often. You know for sure what to count on.”

Born in Paris, Berrada grew up in Rabat, Morocco. He adored football – first of all, the national team of Morocco and Barcelona. His first football mention-World Cup-1986:

“Morocco then played with England (0-0), and then beat Portugal 3: 1 and for the first time in the history of African teams left the group. It was a moment of national pride. And then I finally fell in love with football.”

From the age of nine, his family lived in the United States (he later returned to study to study engineering). He also lived in Brussels and Barcelona. Before heading United, he read a lot about the club – and continues to do so. Knowledge of team history, interest in tactics and analytics – all this is manifested in his words.

This is another reason why he believes in Ruben Amorim and does not agree with the idea that he is too tired of a single model of the game.

“We want to see attractive, attacking football. But remember Johann Kroyfa-he also played in 3-4-3, and no one said it is a defensive style. So I would not get hung up on the scheme, it is better to look at the identity of the team and the style of the game that is trying to instill Ruben.”

The Athletic