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Man City chief sends pointed message to Man Utd over poaching their staff

06 June 2024 , 10:05
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Khaldoon Al Mubarak is not concerned about other clubs poaching Manchester City staff (Image: PA)
Khaldoon Al Mubarak is not concerned about other clubs poaching Manchester City staff (Image: PA)

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak says other clubs poaching their staff shows the Premier League champions are the leaders in world football.

Manchester United have poached Omar Berrada from City to become their new CEO and have also appointed their former academy director Jason Wilcox – who then had a brief stint at Southampton - to the role of technical director. United have also recruited Toby Craig, who worked as City's director of corporate affairs for eight years, to be their new chief communications officer.

Al Mubarak said the recruiting of City's staff to fill roles at other clubs – in particular United – proved the Blues are the club all others aspire to be – on and off the pitch. “Frankly, [it makes me feel] proud,” said Al Mubarak. “It tells you we are very good at what we do at every level.

“When you see, and I use the word graduates, players at the academy level, players at the first team level leave and go and have successful careers. Coaching staff, medical staff, physios, senior executives that are being sought after by the best teams in the world.

“I think if anything, that's testament that we're on the right track. It confirms a) that we're doing it right, b) the people, c) that we have a system, that we have great leadership, that we have great management and a system that continues to produce talent at every level.

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“Every aspect of the business of football, from coaching to playing to managing. When you look at people that get an offer for a great job at another club, of course you understand.

“It’s natural people will take other challenges. But I think one thing that I will hopefully always feel is that when they leave, they leave with appreciation for the time they spent at the club."

Mubarak, speaking to City's in-house media team in his end-of-season address, added: “They leave with respect for how this club has helped them in their careers and they'll always have, I think, a positive memory of the time we spent. We stay friends.

“I think that's important. So, you know, I understand that of course we're going to defend and the people that we want to keep, we will do everything we can to keep.

“Sometimes we can't win them all. But, it's a natural evolution.”

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David McDonnell

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