MANCHESTER UNITED CEO Omar Berrada will not be held to ransom by market forces or agents when moving for Premier League players.
The Moroccan businessman confirmed that United are set to mirror last season’s transfer plans by signing a mix of experience and youth.
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Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada has opened up about United’s transfer business Credit: Getty
Berrada with Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe and United’s director of football Jason Wilcox Credit: PA
United spent over £200m on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens last summer– and it reaped big rewards.
United are eyeing up at least five new signings this summer. Atalanta midfielder Ederson is set to become the club’s first arrival after they agreed a £38m deal earlier this week.
Asked about what approach United would take to the transfer window this summer, Berrada believes the club have a clear plan.
Berrada, 48, told Inside Man Utd: “The template of what we did last summer will be replicated. We have a clear plan.
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“I do think what we saw last season is a good way forward for us, which is we want a mix of experience and youth.
“We want a mix of players who have demonstrated they can perform in the Premier League and perhaps also players who are doing very well outside the Premier League.”
On agents taking advantage of United’s overspending in recent years, Berrada said: “We have to be really disciplined, it’s simple.
“It’s very important that you don’t let the market or the agents dictate what we should be doing.”
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Ederson has agreed to become United’s first summer signing Credit: Alamy
West Ham have slapped a £80m price tag on Mateus Fernandes Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
United have been linked with Carlos Baleba since last summer Credit: Getty
“We know what we can invest and we have to stick to that. But we have to be agile and flexible. We have a clear plan.”
Casemiro has left Old Trafford and a lack of faith in Uruguay‘s Manuel Ugarte – a £50m buy from PSG in 2024 – was emphasised by Michael Carrick not using him at all after he started the home defeat by Leeds in April.
Alongside Ederson, United have an interest in £80m rated West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes and Carlos Baleba at Brighton.
City appear to be leading the race to sign Elliot Anderson and had an opening offer rejected by Forest.
Berrada joined from Manchester City in 2024 after a 13-year tenure at the Etihad, where he served as Chief Football Operations Officer.
The move also reunited him with Jason Wilcox, United’s current director of football.
He added: “Jason and his team are very well set up to execute that plan. What we saw last season is a good way forward for us, which is we want to gain some experience in youth.”
“In some cases, we may decide to make an investment knowing that it’s the right thing for not just the next two, three years but for the next 10 years.”
Berrada reckons United is in a “good place” to achieve ‘Project 150’ and win the Premier League within two years.
When Ineos took over football operations at United in 2024 Berrada revealed the desire for the club to win its 21st league title by 2028, the 150th anniversary of the club’s founding
He said: “Ideally, we do it next season, and if not, then the following season. I think we’re in a good place.
“We’ve seen some really good progress on the pitch this season, and we’re going to continue building on that.
“We’re going to continue investing in different areas of the club. There are other objectives off the pitch that we’d like to achieve as well. One of them is to be financially sustainable, to introduce commercial innovation in the club.”
United confirmed Carrick’s permanent appointment as head coach last month.
The 44-year-old impressed during his interim tenure, following Ruben Amorim’s January sacking, guiding the Red Devils to a third-place Premier League finish and Champions League qualification.
Berrada lauded Carrick’s impact and suitability. “I think he’s earned the right to continue leading the team over the next two years or more,” he remarked.
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Describing Carrick as “somebody who is very calm but also very driven”, Berrada expressed certainty that Carrick and his staff would strive for success.
Berrada admitted that United are “still losing money” but are in a much better position to when he arrived.
He apologised to the 450 staff who were made redundant amid Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting scheme and admitted that “trust” has had to be rebuilt behind-the-scenes at Carrington.
However, Berrada was also quick to stress that Amorim deserves credit for the role he played in United’s standards.
Asked if it was a mistake to hire the Portuguese, Berrada said: “For me, it’s not all black or all white.
“Yes, in the sense that it didn’t work out, but I think Ruben deserves a lot of credit for many things. He helped raise the standards in the dressing room.
“I’m sure he’ll be a great coach and I wish him the best, but we thought a change was necessary and it paid off in the end.”
Berrada pushed for Amorim to replace Erik ten Hag when the Dutchman was sacked in November 2024, and led the negotiations after flying out to Portugal.
