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Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada has expressed his excitement and optimism as Erik ten Hag and his players prepare to open their Premier League season against Fulham on Friday.
Berrada was appointed United’s CEO earlier this year, replacing Richard Arnold who resigned amidst Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 27.7% partial investment into the club.
In his first matchday column for the United Review, Berrada stated his desire to connect with the fans while also acknowledging the extensive work done during the summer, both on and off the pitch.
Berrada also seemed to aim a dig at his former club, Manchester City, by highlighting United’s enormity and worldwide popularity.
The United chief wrote, “Dear fans,
“Welcome back to Old Trafford for our first Premier League match of the 2024/25 season. This is a particularly special occasion for me, as it marks my first game here as chief executive of this magnificent club.”
“It is an enormous privilege to be taking my seat alongside all of you; I’ve been anticipating this for months. There is no better way to begin than right here, under the floodlights, with the incredible atmosphere that this stadium is famous for.”
“Your support at Wembley was fantastic, where we just came up short in the Community Shield. We were disappointed not to win the game, but can take a lot of positives from it. When I was invited to join Manchester United late last year, I didn’t hesitate. As a child growing up my first memory of the club was my father telling me stories of legendary players like Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and many others.”
“It is impossible not to be aware of the weight of history. From the tragedy of Munich to the triumph at Wembley 10 years later, I am honoured to be part of a place where overcoming the greatest adversities and rising again to the greatest glories is in our DNA.”
“That glorious history speaks for itself. When I walked through the doors for the first time last month, I was immediately struck by the enormity of the club and what it means to our fans here in Manchester and all over the world. I think it’s impossible to understand how big Manchester United really is until you’re on the inside. That’s one advantage all of you have had over me, but I’m catching up and I feel it more and more every day. It is a very easy place to fall in love with. ”
He added, “We have had a busy summer so far, with transformation on and off the pitch. We welcome Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to the club; four excellent talents with a bright future here. We are delighted that club captain, Bruno Fernandes, has put pen to paper and committed his future to United and Erik ten Hag has extended his contract on the back of our FA Cup success.”
“Dan Ashworth has joined as Sporting Director and Jason Wilcox as Technical Director. We are building a strong and talented football structure to work with Erik and ensure that we are focused on long-term success. We are also looking to build a world-leading non-football leadership team, which I know will help us to thrive.”
“I enjoyed spending time with our colleagues on the pre-season tour of the US, and I particularly enjoyed meeting so many of our American and travelling fans while we were there. We met with our new front-of-shirt partner Snapdragon at their home in San Diego and I was hugely impressed with how their market-leading technology will help us to perform.”
“We are working hard to transform Carrington so that both our men’s and women’s teams have access to outstanding training facilities. You will be aware we have appointed a joint task force to explore options for the future regeneration of the Old Trafford area with a world-class stadium at the heart of it. It is the right time for us to be moving forward with both projects and our owners and the management team are completely committed to them.”
“This is an eventful time for the club. Everything we do has to help us to perform on the pitch and that is our number one priority. It is so important, particularly in times of change, that our bond with you supporters is closer than ever. This will continue to be an important priority for us. All of you must be central to everything we do. ”
“I look forward to meeting many of you at Old Trafford and over the course of the season. This is your club. I promise that I will always remember that and treat it with the care, dedication and respect it deserves.”
United’s meeting vs. Fulham at Old Trafford kicks off at 20:00 BST.
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