Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insists Manchester United’s poaching of senior executive Omar Berrada is a source of pride for his club.
United pulled off a coup earlier this year when it was announced Berrada would quit his role as City’s chief football operations officer to take over as chief executive at United this summer.
His departure followed those of Academy director Jason Wilcox – who is also now at United after a spell at Southampton – and coaches Enzo Maresca and Rodolfo Borrell, both of whom are now managers, last summer.
Asked how he felt about such exits in an interview with the club’s media channels, Khaldoon said: “Frankly? Proud. It tells you we are very good at what we do at every level.
“When you see graduates, be it players at the Academy level, players at the first-team level, leave and go and have successful careers, to coaching staff, medical staff, physios, to senior executives that are being sought after by the best teams in the world, I think, if anything, that’s a testament that we’re on the right track.
“The people that we want to keep, we will do everything we can to keep but, sometimes, we can’t win them all. It’s the natural evolution.”
Khaldoon is particularly proud of the club’s strong financial position having posted record revenues of £712.8million and a profit of £80.4million last year.
“I’m very pleased with the results,” said Khaldoon in his end-of-season review.
“The results are very sustainable because we have a very clear foundation that has been built over many years. We have a financial and economic machine.
“I think we’re on a trajectory that has been there for years now and continues to go from strength to strength.”
Khaldoon is pleased with the way the club’s overarching ownership group has grown to become a strong force in the world game.
While City’s record fourth consecutive Premier League title win this year was a headline achievement, there were other notable successes across the 13-club City Football Group, including Girona’s third-placed finish in LaLiga and Champions League qualification.
He said: “The model works. We have a great system, we have a great management team, we have great clubs as part of the group.
“City Football Group is no longer a test of viability. It’s now a fully-functional sports and entertainment machine that continues to grow.”
Khaldoon also touched on the issue of ticket prices at the Etihad Stadium. City caused some consternation amongst supporters when they announced an increase in season-ticket prices in March.
He said: “I recognise some of our fans, obviously, are not satisfied on the pricing side of it. We have to find solutions for them. That is our job. We have to work this out.
“But we also have to grow, and we have to find the right commercial avenues for the club to continue to grow and to generate revenue, which inevitably then comes back to support the team and support the success that you’ve seen and that you will continue to see.”
Meanwhile, there has been another notable departure this summer with former England women’s captain Steph Houghton retiring after 10 seasons with City.
Khaldoon said: “Steph has been a tremendous leader for our club, for the team.
“Thank you, Steph, for everything you’ve done for us. You’re a legend, you’re a leader. I think your role will never be forgotten.”