I have my doubts.
But at least he is trying to make the football side of Manchester United his own but taking and had an CEO appointed after couple of days, the same man who was of the big reasons both Barcelona during their best years 2004-2011, but then also joined City and has been there from the start of their new era with the oil money.
He has proven one thing there, at least, and that is how you negotiate, he was the one that sealed all contracts for Manchester City after Pep, Txiki and probably Soriano decided which player they needed, they gave him the list and he made magic many times, not just not overpaying fees, agents, clubs but also being great in renewing contract and propose the right amount to your new players so they feel appreciated but also not getting 300k/week after your first year as an young talent.
He is a man, proven, to be workaholic, go that extra mile, stay upp all night sitting in jet travelling across the world to seal deals - now he will even have more power here then in city were he was "Berrada had been the chief football operations officer at City Football Group, which ultimately owns City and a host of other clubs across the globe. He operated closely with City director of football Txiki Begiristain on matters including transfer deals and contracts. He was involved in the high-profile signing of striker Erling Haaland in the summer of 2022".
So he has been involved in exactly everything in City, started with, sponsors, to being the chief football operations officer for the best club, at least top 3, for a couple of years. We really got world class CEO.
Now, if we can somehow find a solution (that is not paying more then 7-10m) with Newcastle, then we suddenly having another man that is world class in his jobb, Dan Ashworth as the Sporting Director.
That alone, for being here officially like 10 days (INEOS), is a great start, not to mention all the other names that are close to joining, and every single seems to be perfectly well connected and complement each other.
Also the promises about heavily investing, but also understanding (which you hear him talk about in his last interview from a couple of days ago) that both Carrington and Old Trafford are 20 years behind and, yes of course - the project will cost a lot money - but with 95.000 (20k more tickets every game), more restaurants, fresh bars, activity for the smaller ones and investing around Old Trafford with a 5 star hotell (believe he said that), but also rumors about a mall and a lot more to be build around the Trafford era. And also trying to get government could work, to build the Wembley of the north - build an landmark!
Now, when it comes to how long it will take for him and his team and all these great new signings that are not the eleven supposed to run on the pitch, how can we solve it with FFP:
- Some people claim that we have like £40m+ players we sell that are from the academy (?) so it would mean like another £35m (at beast) = So £75m transfer budget counting with selling Mason, otherwise £40m
- Other claims that we have someone how moved some payments, or have payed them to make space for some money and that it is about £100m
- Then we have those, cant even call it them those since this is reports coming often and that is that we have paid of some old transfers so we can have £100m but also that if Sir Ratcliffe goes in with his own money we could add another £100 so it would make it £200m AND on top of that, that what ever we sell and is available not breaking FFP rules, would also be added to the £200
- Then we are probably selling/letting go;
AWB £25
Lindelöf £15
Amrabat £0
Eriksen £10
Sancho £40
Pellistri £10
DVD £15
Martial £0
Greenwood £35*
= 115+35* added to £200m, so 315 (not counting on Greenwood being sold yet after they smooth talking when answering any questions - we lost the Greenwood morale fight the day the club saw all recordings etc but instead he is still employed by the biggest (top 3 at least) and we probably feel that his is way to good to let go for £30m and that his potential is world class, maybe so good that we can take the media/fans booing battle - but the club knows that even that shall pass)
Now if Rashford is really that unhappy, not motivated, wants to try something else and PSG comes in with a £80m bid (yes I believe it would land somewhere about that high because they are buying from Berrada now, Rashford is still young and showed last season what he has in him somewhere and also, Mbappe is a better player so does it better, but him and Marcus are very similar in the way they move, run against the opponents, same way of shooting the ball, both very fast and I am sure Marcus would be a 20-25 goals per season + 10A on a regular basis for probably 5-6 years over there.
Reason why i didnt place Varane on the list is because we didnt trigger his 1 year extension, I hope that they will reduce his salary and offer him 2+1 years or maybe 2y only so that he stays here for at least one more season.
When he is playing with someone he trusts, and that Dalot, Martinez and Shaw for him, Varane is looking like the Varane from 2014-2020.
Varane seems like true leader both on and off the pitch, and many former teammates have spoken about it - and you can not love the passion Dalot, Varane & Martinez makes a block or something and they celebrate it! We need more of that, it even makes the fans excited.
Another reason keeping him is him being role model for someone like Kambwala and in the best of world if we could add a CB talent like Jarrad Branthwaite (21y. Everton, English) or Antonio Silva (20y, Benfica, Portuguese). Benfica has made it very clear that nothing under his €100million (£85.5m) release clause will be accepted and that they will only sell one out of Silva and Joao Neves (20y, Benfica, Portuguese) - who would be so good for our midfield - but also with same price tag.
Branthwaite feels like the next Virgil that we can probably for £60m, but could as well be a new Phil Jones or Maguire - i dont why, but he reminds me of Maguire in Leicester where he used his big body to win a lot of duels and specially the air balls. But he has bad first touch, and not so impressive with passing, handling the ball or carry it. I might be wrong, but from 10 gamed and now some Youtube highlights I am not sure we are getting a new Phil or Harry, with 6 year contract that comes with being young, 20 good games, being English and Man United wanting to sign you - No thanks, even though Antonio Silva is £25m more expensive we get a modern CB that has the attributes that a CM should have - he can dribble, great passer, can carry the ball, leading his defense, strong both in the air but also in duells and very mature for only being 20 (born 2003). Having a defense line up with Varane, Martinez, Silva and Lindelöf (who I would keep instead of Maguire if we bring in new CB). They ideal would be to sell Maguire and Lindelöf and bring Silva and Todibo (£30m). I dont know, but Varane, Martinez and Todibo for £115m - £30 Maguire & £15m = £70m, getting 2 of the biggest CBS talents there is around in a group of where Varane is leading with his routine and winning mentality (he is still only 30y though), and Martinez is just someone you look up to and can learn how to use be the tallest on the pitch only being 1.75cm - its about the character.
The £70m + £30 for Frimpong would transform our defense, with having 2 top players and 3 out of 4 positions in the defense - where we need to make a decision. This summer both Mendy (Real Madrid) and probably L.Hernandez will be on the market for around £35-45m. Madrid will sell Mendy only because they want Davies playing LB for them instead. Or do we skip both, recall A. Fernandez from Benfica and finally give him a chance (or do we try to include him in deal for Silva and/or Neves for a cheap price but high % of potential sell). Or do we trust that Shaw play 75-80% of the games, how has Malacias injury affected him or should we take and chance with Shaw/Malacia and start to introduce maybe our biggest youth star in Harry Amass.
I wont go through all positions or players i think we should get rid of, i was just trying to see what options there are and were we stand with the budget for the summer and Greenwood.
