Sir Jim Ratcliffe hailed for ‘elite’ Man Utd move dubbed ‘best signing at Old Trafford since teenage Cristiano Ronaldo’

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has already pulled off a huge coup – with an “elite” appointment rated Manchester United’s best signing since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003.

That’s the verdict from club legends on United‘s new 25% owner luring Omar Berrada from Man City to become Old Trafford chief executive.

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Omar Berrada won plaudits for his work at Man City and Barcelona[/caption]

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New minority investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already impressed pundits with one major recruit, even though it’s not a superstar player[/caption]

Etihad chiefs reportedly “can’t believe” their chief football operations officer has swapped his Manchester loyalties.

And The Athletic say a senior figure at one Premier League club labelled the capture of Berrada as United’s “first genuinely elite move” in a decade.

Other well-placed people have gone further – comparing his arrival to that of Ronaldo aged 18.

The Portuguese winger, now a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, spent six glittering years with United before joining Real Madrid in 2009.

Ronaldo, who will be 39 next month, helped United to the Champions League and Prem double in 2008.

In all, he won the title three times at Old Trafford, also triumphing in the FA Cup once and the League Cup twice.

Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville have led the praise from former United players for the recruitment of Berrada.

Ferdy discussed the upcoming change at the top for United on his Vibe with Five podcast.

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Berrada has a long association with City’s Treble-winning manager Pep Guardiola, having also worked with the Spaniard at Barcelona.

And ex-England defender Ferdinand said: “I spoke to some guys who were at Manchester City. They cannot believe we have got him.

“They think he has done so much in the game at different levels and has been successful and that it is a really good, sharp signing for us. 

“I think this could potentially be one of our best January signings. In the current climate, we are in now, especially.”

And Neville is also impressed, albeit stressing that Berrada faces a massive job to transform the club’s fortunes.

The Sky Sports pundit and former Three Lions right-back said: “It’s a big job to be CEO of Manchester United and you think of all the things he’s got to go at.

“They’ve not had someone who has operated in football for a long time and that is really important.

“He’s had a brilliant grounding at Manchester City and Barcelona.

“It looks like Man United are making more sound decisions and look like they are on the right track.”

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