Pep Guardiola finally reacts as Manchester United snatch key figure from Manchester City

Manchester United confirmed the appointment of Omar Berrada as the club’s new chief executive officer on Saturday.

This came as a shock to many, as Berrada was a key figure at Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola has however wished Omar Berrada good luck in his new role at Manchester United, describing him as one of the best people at the club. 

Guardiola also believes Man City will move on and find a suitable replacement.

Guardiola said: “Well all I can say personally is I wish him all the best, good luck. So he changes street and not the city. Yeah, he has been an important person for the whole organisation, the right hand of [City CEO] Ferran [Soriano].

“But he decided for himself to leave, and the club will move forward. So we, the club, will find the right way or the right person, or persons, to move forward and do what he has done. But personally I wish him all the best.”

Probed on whether there was any sense of shock that Berrada has joined United, and whether they will be more of a force in the future, Guardiola added: “I don’t know the ideas from Man United.

“We try to keep the best persons and people here but this can happen. When I arrived here eight years ago, especially in this building, to come, not very often, just in the press conferences, but now I come here and I don’t recognise one face. Honestly.

“So people change a lot, move to another job, and new people are coming. I think we wanted [him to stay], the club was so happy with Omar, but he decided for himself to leave and all the best [to him].”