15 October 2023 , 11:31
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It is not the full sale Manchester United fans were desperate to see happen, to finally see the back of despised owners the Glazers.
But United fans will hope Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.4billion deal to buy 25 per cent stake is the first step in a move that will ultimately lead to a full takeover from him and the end of the Glazers at Old Trafford.
The withdrawal of the Qatari-backed bid for a full takeover of United left the way clear for INEOS chief Ratcliffe to purchase a significant stake, one that should give him considerable clout.
Ratcliffe, who also owns French side Nice and Swiss Super League team FC Lausanne-Sport, has insisted his proposal for 25 per cent of United comes with influence over football decisions.
That includes player acquisitions and sales, as well as the management, coaching and football staff, although boss Erik ten Hag's position is not thought to be under threat in the immediate term.
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Many United fans felt the only way their club could compete with the likes of state-owned Manchester City and Newcastle was to be taken over by the Qatari bid fronted by Sheikh Jassim.
The £5bn Qatari bid for full control of United pledged to clear the club's debt, as well as providing more than £1bn for the overhauling of Old Trafford, the training ground and improving the squad.
Manchester United fans have continually protested against the Glazers (Visionhaus/Getty Images)Whatever misgivings United fans may have had about the funding of the Qatar bid, and the state's human rights record, were somewhat assuaged by the belief it would make their club great again.
Now there must be a more realistic assessment as to how the club will benefit from Ratcliffe's investment and subsequent influence at United, with the 70-year-old keen to make an impact.
While the Glazers are motivated by monetising the United brand around the globe for maximum profit, Ratcliffe's principal interest is in the pursuit of sporting excellence, something he will want to show at the earliest opportunity.
He has shown that with his INEOS cycling team, prioritising elite performance under Sir Dave Brailsford, his Director of Sport, who is almost certain to be given a role at United when the minority stake is confirmed at a United board meeting this week.
While it is not the outcome United fans wanted when the Glazers opened the door to a potential full sale 11 months ago, in Ratcliffe they have a major new investor who will prioritise football over profit and whose long-term aim is the same – to take the club into a new era of success without the reviled US owners.