Manchester City have reached an agreement with Manchester United amid concerns that confidential transfer information could be leaked.
Last week the football world was rocked by the news that United have appointed Omar Berrada as their new chief executive officer (CEO) poaching him from neighbours City.
Berrada resigned from his position of chief football operations officer of City Football Group (CFG), the organisation that oversees the reigning Premier League champions and several other clubs around the world.
Advert
The Spaniard joined City from Barcelona in 2011, and previously held several different roles within the club relating to business and commercial partnerships.
Berrada's appointment by United is controversial given that he could be implicated if City are found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules.
Pep Guardiola's side face 115 charges related to alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules. They stand accused of inflating the value of sponsorship deals, something - if proven to be true - Berrada would have overseen.
Advert
Many fans are speculating that United's willingness to hire Berrada means they are confident that City will be found not guilty.
Whatever the future holds, City have come to an agreement with United in order to protect their interests and prevent Berrada providing his new employers with insider information on their rivals.
Berrada has given notice of his resignation, but City have put him on gardening leave until the summer. That means CFG will pay him to take a leave of absence rather than join United immediately.
Advert
It's understood that Berrada will not take up his new role until close to the start of next season, preventing him from passing on useful information regarding transfers, finances and commercial deals that Untied could use against City this season.
Berrada will be the permanent successor to Richard Arnold, who left his position of CEO ahead of INEOS - headed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe - securing a 25% stake in United for £1.3 billion. Patrick Stewart will remain interim CEO until Berrada officially starts his role.
City have left United behind over the past decade, but the rivalry in Manchester could be about to get a whole lot more interesting.
Topics: Manchester City, Manchester United, Premier League, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Pep Guardiola
Alex Brotherton