Poaching Man City exec won’t solve United problems – Guardiola،
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned Manchester United that removing manager Omar Berrada from their rivals will not solve all their problems.
United have hired Berrada as their new CEO, ending a nearly 10-year stint at City.
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The first major appointment since Sir Jim Ratcliffe's involvement at Old Trafford was announced is seen as a coup for United, but Guardiola insists the move will not automatically bridge the gap with City.
“Kevin De Bruyne is still at Man City,” Guardiola said.
“De Bruyne will play here. Erling Haaland will play here, so in the end it's not that simple. Maybe United think that with this person everything will change. Congratulations. I don't know if that will happen.
“He [Berrada] is a lovely person, incredible character, incredible professional.
“Yesterday I saw him, we hugged and I wished him all the best, deeply I wish him the best because he is a fantastic person.
“But I don't know if [by] In doing so [clicks his fingers] everything will work out and it works. If that happens, then oh my God, they're going to have to take a stand for Omar Berrada in the future because he deserves it.”
Berrada has been a key part of City's off-field structure, spending four years as director of operations at the Etihad Stadium before being promoted to director of football operations at City Football Group in 2020.
His work alongside President Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Director of Football Txiki Begiristain and CEO Ferran Soriano has helped City enjoy an unprecedented era of success, culminating in last season's treble.
Guardiola admits Berrada will be missed but insists the club will 'move on'.
“Obviously his knowledge goes to United, that’s the reality,” Guardiola said.
“When you buy a player from another club, you buy the knowledge that player has had in the past with other managers and teammates. That's normal. At this club, these situations happen.
“The club will move forward. Maybe we will find a way to replace him and we will continue, because the newcomer maybe comes from here, Ferran and Khaldoon will decide.
“We will be well prepared, we will adapt, adjust and move forward. We learned a lot from Omar but he learned a lot from the club and now he has gone to United.”
