Sir Jim Ratcliffe designates de facto kingmaker to make decision over Erik ten Hag’s future

Manchester United’s new chief executive Omar Berrada is poised to have a significant say on Erik ten Hag’s future when the season ends.

Berrada, who is currently on gardening leave at Man City, is expected to officially take over as the new chief executive in the summer. The news of Berrada’s appointment was announced in January and it came as a huge blow to Man City.

The Frenchman brokered deals that saw City sign the likes of Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish, as well as generate record revenue from the City Academy.

Samuel Luckhurst from the Manchester Evening News claims United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe does not want to intervene to determine Ten Hag’s fate and intends to delegate to the football expertise of Berrada.

The report also states that Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford will not decide Ten Hag’s position.

Luckhurst writes: “United are operating under the working assumption Ten Hag will remain in charge next season. The Dutchman has been involved in the planning for the pre-season tour of the United States and recruitment ahead of the summer transfer window.”

This would suggest that a lot of what has been reported about managerial candidates is pure crap because a decision has not been made. It’s also perfectly normal for top clubs to always have their eye on other top managers, but it doesn’t mean they’re going to act anytime soon.

Ten Hag should be backed into a third campaign as United manager. None of the possible candidates are improvements on the Dutchman. Gareth Southgate? Roberto De Zerbi? Give me a break.

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