Manchester United: Chief executive Omar Berrada says club can win Premier League within next two years

Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada says the club is in a "good place" to win the Premier League within two years.

When INEOS took over football operations at United in 2023, Berrada revealed the desire for the club to win its 21st league title by 2028, the 150th anniversary of the club's founding.

Having finished the 2025/26 season in third and qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2023, Berrarda is confident Premier League success is close.

"Ideally, we do it next season, and if not, then the following season. I think we're in a good place," he said on Inside Man Utd.

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"We've seen some really good progress on the pitch this season, and we're going to continue building on that.

"We're going to continue investing in different areas of the club. There are other objectives off the pitch that we'd like to achieve as well. One of them is to be financially sustainable, to introduce commercial innovation in the club."

'We have a clear plan for summer transfers'

United's moves during last summer's transfer window delivered the additions of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens; all of whom enjoyed largely positive first campaigns at the club.

Asked about what approach United would take to the transfer window this summer, Berrada believes the club have a clear plan.

"The template for what we did last summer will be replicated in many ways," he said on Inside Carrington.

"You always go into a window. You don't know how you're going to come out of it. But you have to be really prepared. You have to have a clear plan. You have to know exactly what positions you're looking to strengthen.

"We have to be agile and flexible. But we have a clear plan.

"Jason Wilcox and his team are very well set up to execute that plan. What we saw last season is a good way forward for us, which is we want to gain some experience in youth.

"We want to make some players that have demonstrated they can perform in the Premier League and perhaps also with players that are doing very well outside the Premier League. But we will always do it within our terms and ensure that whatever decision we take is not just for the short term but also for the long term.

"We have to be really disciplined. It's simple. We have a plan. We know what we can invest and we have to stick to that.

"In some cases, we may decide to make an investment knowing that it's the right thing for not just the next two, three years but for the next 10 years."

'We want Bruno to stay'

Berrada was also asked about the future of club captain Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese playmaker was named Premier League Player of the Year and also claimed the FWA Football Writer's Player of the Year, beating the likes of Arsenal trio Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhaes and David Raya despite their title win.

Fernandes also bettered Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry's assist tally for a single season to set a new record for a single campaign with 21.

The 31-year-old's future was subject to intense speculation last summer when he turned down a lucrative Saudi offer to stay at Old Trafford.

"I think in Bruno, we have a fantastic captain. Absolutely fantastic," Berrada said.

Pressed whether he wants him to stay at the club, United's chief said:

"We'd like him to stay. Of course we do. He's had a great season on the pitch and more importantly, I think he's shown everybody that he is a great leader.

"People don't see what he does outside the pitch and he deserves a lot of credit."

'Carrick earned the right to continue at Man Utd - Amorim deserves huge credit'

Berrada also discussed Michael Carrick, whose impressive half season prompted the club to award him a new longer-term deal as head coach.

The former United midfielder, who was appointed in January until the end of the season following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, was rewarded with a two-year contract after securing a return to the Champions League.

United won 11 of Carrick's 16 games in charge, drawing three and losing two, in a run that started with a four-game winning streak and victories over Manchester City and Arsenal.

Asked about Carrick, Berrada said: "I think he's earned the right to continue leading the team over the next two years or more.

"I would describe him as somebody who is very calm but also very driven and I'm sure he'll do everything he can, he and his staff, to make sure that we have a successful team this season, next season and the year after.

"And I think when we look at the squad and what we're trying to do over the next two years, he does bring the right attributes, the right ingredients, character, understanding of the club to help us navigate through the next steps of our journey."

However, Berrada was also quick to stress that Carrick's predecessor derserves credit for the role he played in United's improved position this term.

The Portuguese was sacked after 14 months in charge at Old Trafford, following an outburst in a press conference after a draw at Leeds.

"I actually think that Ruben deserves a lot of credit for many things," Berrada said.

"He went through a very difficult season last year. He was put under difficult circumstances but he did help raise the standards in the dressing room.

"So I think he deserves a lot of credit for that. And I do think that he's going to be a successful coach. And I wish him all the best. But we did feel that we needed to make a change. And in the end, it's worked out with Michael."

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