'He's got swagger' - Omar Berrada thinks Manchester United might have their new Eric Cantona
Man Utd have completed their first signing of the summer transfer window.
Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada is confident the club are on the right track under Ruben Amorim and believes they will finish the summer transfer window with a much stronger squad than they started it with.
United have just recorded their worst domestic season since being relegated in 1974. They finished the campaign trophyless after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. The defeat also means they will not play in European competition next season, further damaging their finances and reputation.
Berrada is still confident the club can win the Premier League within the next three seasons though, and is sticking to the 'Project 150' initiative launched last year, in which they plan to mark the club's 150th anniversary in 2028 by winning both the men's and women's league titles. It might seem like a long shot, but he sees similarities between United and his early days with Barcelona.
United might have their new Cantona
Omar Berrada covered a range of topics during his in-depth chat with the United We Stand fanzine, and also spoke about their recent transfer business under Ruben Amorim. The chief executive is confident in the plan they have in place to overhaul the first-team squad and believes Matheus Cunha could be a masterstroke addition.
Cunha officially became the club's first signing of the summer last week when he completed his £62.5 million move from Wolves and Berrada believes he has the same star qualities that made Eric Cantona a club legend.
“He’s a player that I think fans are going to love,” Berrada told United We Stand. “We can talk about his technical abilities and he can play in three different positions. He’s a playmaking attacking midfielder; he can score goals, he can make assists. I think he’s going to lift people off their seats. He’s got a bit of a swagger about him that people are going to really like. Dare I say, (Eric) Cantona-esque.
“He was an important one to get done. We’re going to do our best to do more signings quickly. Sometimes when you’re not quick, it’s because you’re negotiating and you’re trying to make sure you get the right value for money. So being efficient or quick isn’t necessarily the best thing for the club.
“We’ve put ourselves in the best position possible by doing everything that we’ve had this year around cost-cutting,” Berrada added. “I’m confident that we will come out of the window with a much stronger team than what we’ve gone into.”