Man Utd takeover: Sir Jim makes stadium call

Stuart Telford

• 12 Nov 2023 09:22 GMT
• 3 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has ruled out any suggestion of a move away from Old Trafford once his bid for 25 per cent ownership of Manchester United is cleared.

Ratcliffe, who also owns Ligue 1 club Nice and was previously the UK's richest man, has secured a 25 stake in Man Utd for £1.3 billion - valuing the club at £5.2bn.

Despite his offer keeping the Glazer family involved in the running of the club, Ratcliffe will be given 'sporting control', with sources saying that Erik ten Hag needn't worry about his job as manager… yet.

READ: Man Utd: Sir Jim Ratcliffe could see signature of world's best player

As well as a bloated playing squad - Antony, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial are reportedly in Ratcliffe's firing line - the new co-owner also has a crumbling stadium to worry about. But he has no plans to leave Old Trafford.

Sir Jim 'rules out' new home

"Sources close to Sir Jim have revealed that the chairman and chief executive officer of the INEOS chemicals group, which he founded, Ratcliffe has ruled out a £1.5billion new home," reports The Mail on Sunday's Alex Miller.

"As part of his overhaul of the club, he will consider alternative plans to renovate and expand Old Trafford and improve facilities in and around the famous old ground."

READ: Antony leads €90m Man Utd trio Ratcliffe will axe

Ratcliffe will however dip into his nearly £30bn personal fortune beyond the £1.3bn for his stake, though, with £245 million pledged towards infrastructure at the club. Of that, the bulk is earmarked towards improving the Carrington training ground.

Old Trafford may have a leaking roof, but the training facilities are needing yet more attention if club legend Cristiano Ronaldo is to be believed.

"The progress was zero," he told Piers Morgan in the unsanctioned interview that preceded his free transfer to Al-Nassr last year. "Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed."