16 October 2023 , 07:48
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Former OGC Nice head coach Patrick Vieira has hinted that Erik ten Hag will be given the space and backing to do things his way by Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Manchester United.
The Ineos chief, 70, has been wrestling with Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani for months in a bid to buy into his boyhood club. And Ratcliffe is set to purchase a 25 percent stake at United after Sheikh Jassim withdrew from a taxing process over the weekend.
Ratcliffe already has experience in football with Nice, the Ligue 1 club purchased by Ineos back in 2019. And Vieira, who was employed by Ratcliffe at Nice, outlined what it was like to work with the British billionaire earlier this year.
Vieira told FourFourTwo Magazine back in April: "He'd never interfere with my work. We'd talk about football when we met, about the team and our lives, but he's not an owner who will get involved too much and prevent the manager from doing his job.
"His ambitions and expectations are high, so you know where you stand, but you can do your job freely."
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Vieira's comments would indicate that Ratcliffe will very much be a hands-off leader at Old Trafford if his proposal to acquire 25 percent of the club is successful. His offer, which values United at over £5billion, is set to be decided on at a board meeting this week.
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Patrick Vieira has lifted the lid on working under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is poised to purchase a 25 percent stake in Manchester United (PA)Although Ratcliffe has not tabled a proposal to purchase the club outright like Sheikh Jassim, the Ineos chief will take charge of all football operations at Old Trafford. And the petrochemicals chief could make personnel changes in order to get his own people in at the club.
Former Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell has already been linked with the Red Devils since news of Ratcliffe's agreement in principle broke. There has also been speculation about the futures of current staff members, too.
That includes Ten Hag, who has overseen Manchester United's worst start to a season in 37 years. It is understood, though, that the Dutchman's position is currently safe, with Ratcliffe not planning to make a change.
Ineos' director of sport, Sir David Brailsford, is expected to play a significant role in proceedings going forward. Brailsford is the figurehead of the company's sporting empire and was part of the delegation that visited Old Trafford alongside Ratcliffe in March.