Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to ditch Glazers approach with ambitious Man Utd plan

20 November 2023 , 11:02

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to ditch Glazers approach with ambitious Man Utd plan

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to take a much more hands-on approach at Manchester United than the Glazers once his proposed purchase of a 25 percent stake in the club is finally ratified.

The deal will see Ratcliffe become a minority shareholder in United through his chemical company INEOS, with the Glazers agreeing to give him control of the football side of the club. Changes have already been made, with United announcing that Richard Arnold will be leaving his role as CEO and more high-profile departures are expected.

INEOS also own French club Nice and Swiss side Lausanne, giving fans some insight into how Ratcliffe and Co may look to run United. INEOS took over Nice in 2019 and are currently enjoying an excellent start to the season under new manager Francesco Farioli, a disciple of Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.

Nice currently sit second in Ligue 1, just one point behind Paris Saint-Germain, having gone unbeaten so far with Farioli at the helm. And the 34-year-old has revealed Ratcliffe likes to be much more involved with the club than the Glazers are at United.

"I met Jim Ratcliffe a few days after (taking the job) because he was very busy," Farioli told the Telegraph. "But from his side, the first time we met, the feeling he transferred to me, it was really like the feeling of somebody that was really aware of many things.

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"I felt already known before knowing him. It was a really warm welcome." Farioli has regular contact with those at INEOS, including Ratcliffe, who set him the target of finishing in the top six and qualifying for Europe - an ambitious target given Nice finished ninth last season.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is closing in on a deal to buy 25 percent of Manchester United (PA)

"I like to listen to the feedback I receive because it's good to have different perspectives and different input," Farioli added when asked about Ratcliffe's involvement. "Afterwards, I have freedom in the decisions on the pitch.

"In other things, a bit more for the medium and long term, there is always an open door. We share our opinions and we have periodic, day-by-day or weekly conversations. But also with the club, we have a monthly review of everything with all the parts involved - about the strategy, about the present and also about the future.

"The ambitions of the club are already quite big with the desire to bring the team back in Europe and to be constantly in the European competition. This is the target, to dream big."

Matthew Cooper