Potential £1.4 Billion Stake Purchase Aims to Overhaul Operations with Joel Glazer and Sir Dave Brailsford on Board
In a bid to catalyze a revival at Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the chief of INEOS, is set to create a ‘football committee’ alongside co-chair Joel Glazer and renowned cycling guru Sir Dave Brailsford. This strategic move comes as Ratcliffe is on the verge of acquiring a substantial 25 percent stake in the Red Devils, with the transaction estimated at a staggering £1.4 billion.
The INEOS chief has expressed a keen interest in assuming control of Manchester United’s football operations following a decade marked by on-field struggles. However, the Glazer family, determined to retain their involvement in the club, has prompted Ratcliffe to propose a collaborative approach. Co-chair Joel Glazer is expected to engage in football-related discussions with Ratcliffe and Brailsford, the latter having earned accolades for his leadership in British Cycling, including two BBC Sports Coach of the Year awards. Brailsford currently serves as INEOS’ director of sport.
The completion timeline for Ratcliffe’s acquisition remains uncertain, leading to concerns among fans that the process may extend into 2024. The substantial investment is anticipated to provide the Glazers with the financial means to undertake crucial renovations or a potential rebuild of both Old Trafford and the club’s Carrington training ground. Sky Sports News reports that while the Glazers will continue to oversee United’s commercial activities, Ratcliffe, with his minority stake, will retain influence over these matters, albeit with a primary focus on enhancing the team’s performance.
Manchester United’s decade-long drought without a Premier League title and their last Champions League triumph dating back to 2008 has prompted Ratcliffe’s intervention. The club has grappled with sustained success since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, securing only two League Cups, the FA Cup, and the Europa League during this period. Criticisms have been directed at the Glazers for their transfer strategies, marked by high-profile signings such as Paul Pogba, Angel Di Maria, and Romelu Lukaku, without achieving the desired outcomes. Additionally, managerial choices, including David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, have faced setbacks, failing to replicate the success enjoyed under Ferguson’s tenure. Ratcliffe’s proposed football committee signals a strategic shift aimed at reinvigorating Manchester United’s standing in the footballing world.
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