Brailsford takes step back in Man Utd restructuring as Berrada and Wilcox come to fore

Sir Dave Brailsford, a pivotal figure in Sir Jim Ratcliffe's ambitious restructuring of Manchester United, is reportedly set to scale back his day-to-day involvement with the club.

This shift comes amidst a period of significant upheaval and disappointing on-field results for the Red Devils, who finished a lowly 15th in the Premier League last season, their worst in the Premier League era, and lost the Europa League final.

Initially brought in as a key component of Ratcliffe's overhaul after his minority investment, Brailsford had taken charge of footballing operations, stepping down from his team principal role at INEOS Grenadiers cycling team.

His extensive experience in sports performance, particularly from his time with British Cycling's Olympic success, was expected to instigate a rapid turnaround at Old Trafford.

His tenure saw a major overhaul of the club's operations, including a £50 million redevelopment of the Carrington training ground, and he played a crucial role in the due diligence phase of INEOS's investment.

However, despite these efforts, the immediate impact on the pitch has been limited. The club has experienced a high turnover of staff, including managerial changes with Erik ten Hag's departure and Ruben Amorim's arrival.

Brailsford, 61, will remain a director at Manchester United, but his primary focus will reportedly revert to his role as director of sport for the wider INEOS group, it is reported.

This encompasses other sporting ventures, including Ligue 1 side OGC Nice and the Mercedes AMG F1 Team.

This strategic move aims to empower the recently appointed leadership structure at United, including CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox, who is now expected to be named director of football and take on greater responsibility for overhauling Ruben Amorim's squad.

The decision reflects a broader recalibration within INEOS's sports portfolio, with Ratcliffe also scaling back other investments while remaining committed to his cycling projects. While the immediate results at Manchester United haven't mirrored his cycling success, Brailsford is credited by Ratcliffe for initiating crucial foundational changes.