Jim Ratcliffe, the chairman of Ineos, has taken the reigns of Manchester United’s football operations following his acquisition of a minority stake in the club. Despite holding control, Ratcliffe has brushed off rumours regarding the possibility of signing high profile players like Jude Bellingham or Kylian Mbappe. Instead, his vision for rebuilding United’s former glory involves a more strategic approach than merely splurging on marquee athletes.
During an appearance on the Geraint Thomas Cycling Club podcast, he spoke about his reluctance to follow the path of high spending which the club has taken over the previous decade. Ratcliffe emphasised the importance of correct management and effective recruitment in today’s football scenario. He believes the club’s success lies in finding the next star players rather than investing heavily in already recognised talents.
Additionally, he reflected on the admirable patience Arsenal demonstrated with manager Mikel Arteta, during a light-hearted discussion regarding potential Premier League winners. While the Red Devils still have to decide on Erik ten Hag’s future as their manager, Ratcliffe underscored the importance of persistence with managers, citing Arteta’s performance at Arsenal as an example.
On a humorous note, while declaring his personal rivals in the Premier League, Ratcliffe answered with “I despise them all, they’re all foes.” Nonetheless, he admitted an Arsenal victory would be beneficial for Arteta, applauding his work and Arsenal’s faith in him.
Ratcliffe, in his discussion with Dave Brailsford, emphasised that United could contemplate a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity reaching up to 100,000, provided they focus primarily on the construction of a new field rather than upgrading Old Trafford. He stated that if they proceed to construct a new field, it would undeniably become top-notch and world-class with a capacity ranging from 90,000 to possibly even 100,000. This, in return, would offer a competitive platform for prominent matches in the north of England.
In another part of the news, United’s mid-fielder, Christian Eriksen, expressed his dissatisfaction with his current playing hours due to only starting 11 times during this season, to the Danish journal Tipsbladet. He candidly shared his frustrations about wanting increased playing time, while acknowledging his commitment to remain available for the team. He recognised that Erik’s chosen team, including Kobbie [Mainoo] and others from the centre, were performing well, which has naturally led to a contest for positions. They are in top form, so he respected the role chosen for him. – Guardian.