Shock as Man Utd raid rivals City to appoint Omar Berrada as their new CEO as INEOS pull off huge coup amid major boardroom shakeup

According to The Athletic, the Red Devils are primed to recruit City's chief operating officer as their new CEO, succeeding Richard Arnold who left Old Trafford ahead of INEOS agreeing to buy a 25% stake, costing £1.25 billion, in the club late last year. The report adds Berrada 'resigned' from his role at the Cityzens and is looking for a 'new challenge'.

The Athletic adds that Berrada, one of the 'key' men behind City's success over the past decade, was at the top of INEOS' wish list to take up this role and United's majority owners, the Glazer family, endorsed this move. Berrada, who has worked closely with City's director of football Txiki Begiristain on transfers and contracts, is currently the CFO at City Football Group - which ultimately owns City and other teams across the planet. This is seen as a statement of intent from United to lure in someone of such high esteem.

Berrada joined City in 2011 from Barcelona, having worked at the Catalan side for nearly eight years as a senior media business development manager and head of sponsorship. He acted as a CFO for nearly eight years at City.

Berrada, who reportedly turned down offers to take up chief executive roles at a Premier League club, MLS teams, and a major NFL franchise last summer, looks set to be appointed as United's CEO in the not so distant future.