Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United do not want to wait. This Sunday, December 24, the Mancuniens and the boss of Ineos announced that they had reached an agreement for the repurchase of 25% of the club’s shares. They are now only waiting for validation from the Premier League to formalize this in the statutes. But given the rather long delay, around a month, the British businessman decided to get to work now.
According to the British media, which shared a document officially filed in the United States, where the Glazer family, owner of the club, is based, Jim Ratcliffe can already give his opinion on major decisions at MU. A way to start a collaboration that the Mancunians hope will be fruitful, they who have been in difficulty for several seasons despite hundreds of millions of euros invested in the transfer market.
This agreement already concerns the winter transfer window. The former engineer will therefore have to give his approval for any transfer, whether incoming or outgoing, and for any decision concerning the coach, Éric ten Hag, and the director of football, John Murtough. Choices which could be significant for the Red Devils, 6th in the Premier League and victorious over Aston Villa this Tuesday after a crazy match (3-2).
Ultimately, Jim Ratcliffe could become a majority shareholder of the club. If the current agreement only provides for a purchase of 25% of the shares, the Briton will benefit from priority in the event of the sale of new shares. As a reminder, he already owns Lausanne-Sport and OGC Nice. Furthermore, Ratcliffe would like to reduce costs within the English club. At least, that’s what he said The Guardian this Tuesday. Thus, the British media declares that the businessman would ask an external actor to carry out an audit of the club in order to dismiss a significant part of the thousand employees that the club has. Clearly, between 25% and 30% of employees could be affected, or around 300 people.
