Manchester City chief issues transfer warning to European rivals following Club of the Year success
Manchester City’s Chief Football Operations Officer, Omar Berrada has issued a transfer warning to European rivals as part of his reaction to the Premier League champions being crowned as 'Club of the Year' at the 2022 Ballon D'Or ceremony.
The reigning English top-flight title holders were the recipient of the globally acclaimed award at a glitzy event in the French capital of Paris this week.
Beating European rivals Real Madrid and Liverpool to the top prize for a football club on the night, City were credited for their work both within the men's team, and the women's team last season.
Official: #BallonDor Club of the Year rankings:
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) October 17, 2022
🥇 Manchester City
🥈 Liverpool
🥉 Real Madrid https://t.co/cFUeygkYel
Upon receiving the award handed out by France Football, a number of key officials within the Manchester City operation have reacted to the prize.
The latest to offer his thoughts is the club's Chief Football Operations Officer, Omar Berrada.
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Alongside sporting director Txiki Begiristain, many fans will know Berrada as one man heavily responsible for the club's transfer dealings, and particularly his successful role in guiding Erling Haaland towards the club last summer.
Speaking on the club's success in Paris on Monday night, Omar Berrada told the official Manchester City website, "It’s an incredible team effort and a really proud moment.
“If you think about the journey the Club has been on, it’s amazing for Manchester City to be recognised like this.
He continued, “It’s been such a successful last decade or so and I’m really proud for the ownership, the players and everybody that’s been involved in this journey, and I’d like to say congratulations to every single person that’s been part of delivering this success.
“(The award) is about the Club being recognised for the success it has had on and off the pitch."
Manchester City: Officially the BEST Club on the Planet. 🥇💙 @francefootball pic.twitter.com/27iQwfwyEL
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) October 17, 2022
Omar Berrada then discussed what is next for Manchester City, stressing that one of the key goals for the club is ensuring that the very best players in the game want to move to the Etihad Stadium when thinking about their futures.
Berrada continued, “There has been so much hard work behind the success of the team.
"So this is a platform we are going to build on – it’s really just the beginning.
“We want to continue winning on the pitch, continue growing, continue ensuring our fans enjoy fantastic football and to continue having the best players in the world wanting to come and play for us.
“This is something we will use as a platform for growth for the years ahead."
Manchester City will almost certainly be active in the coming transfer windows, and the summer market of 2023 is already being earmarked of huge importance to the club.
It is understood that City will look towards recruiting in midfield, and at full-back next summer, with work already underway in the City Football Academy offices to identify potential candidates for each position.
Freddie Pye