If you’re going to recruit well, recruit the recruiters well. Manchester United’s poaching of Omar Berrada from Manchester City, where he was chief football operations officer for City Football Group, looks inspired. As chief executive officer, such a shrewd, value-seeking practitioner in the transfer market should bring some sanity to United’s erratic work.
His first meeting with Harry Maguire at Carrington should be interesting. Berrada felt that Maguire was overpriced at £80 million when Leicester City were selling in 2019, so City declined their interest. City bided their time, focused their money, and the following year signed Rúben Dias, a younger, better centre back, for £65 million from Benfica.
Berrada’s explanation at the time carries great resonance for United now. “When you make investments of
