By appointing Omar Berrada as their new CEO, Manchester United has made their first significant move under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, stealing a move from their neighbors, Manchester City.

The Glazers decided to hire Omar Berrada to Manchester United after conferring with Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The Premier League has not yet approved the British billionaire’s papers, therefore he has not yet officially completed his 25% investment in the team. But that’s just a formality.

Ratcliffe has made his first big choice quickly, as United has already declared his arrival and his intention to control all football activities. It’s also a significant one. Berrada, who joins from nearby rival Manchester City, will take over as the club’s new CEO.

It’s regarded as something of a coup for United, with Berrada crucial to City’s success during his 13 years at the Etihad. Mirror Football understands Joel and Avram Glazer made the appointment while working with Ratcliffe.

The decision to give Berrada the job ahead of Ratcliffe’s arrival was done so he can be in place as soon as possible after Ratcliffe’s investment is completed. That said, Mirror Football further understands that his notice period may mean Berrada is not in place until the start of the 2024-25 season.

United confirmed the announcement on Saturday, with a statement on their website. It read: “Manchester United is pleased to announce the appointment of Omar Berrada as its new CEO. The Club is determined to put football and performance on the pitch back at the heart of everything we do. Omar’s appointment represents the first step on this journey.

“One of the most seasoned football executives in European football, Omar offers a plethora of football and business acumen, a track record of effective leadership, and a drive to spearhead change inside the Club. He held significant positions at Barcelona before taking on the role of Chief Football Operations Officer at City Football Group, which entails managing 11 clubs on five continents.

Christmas Eve saw the announcement of Ratcliffe’s investment, and last weekend he went to his first game—a 2-2 tie with Tottenham Hotspur. Ratcliffe expressed his delight about taking over all football operations before the game, even revealing that he had spoken with Erik ten Hag.

Ratcliffe said: “It’s the first match for me since we got here. I’m very excited to be here, but I can’t answer any questions really. It’s a big match and we normally do well against Spurs. I have met Erik [ten Hag] but it would be inappropriate [to comment on that meeting] until it’s all formalised.”

He added: “I have done a few exciting things, but this caps it all. There’s no question about that. It’s taken a few years and it’s taken a few turns, as you know, but these things take some doing.”