07 February 2024 , 09:11
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe's repeated presence at Manchester United's Carrington training ground has gone down well with those around the club, it has been claimed, with a sense he is "getting down to business".
Ratcliffe's arrival at United was confirmed on Christmas Eve, with the billionaire's 25 per cent investment - worth around £1.3bn - expected to be ratified this month. He has already been to his first United match since the announcement, taking in the Premier League draw with Tottenham in January, and has made multiple visits to Carrington.
United's long-term owners the Glazer family have only made fleeting appearances during their nearly two decades at the helm. Ratcliffe, in contrast, has taken what appears to be a more active role in proceedings.
The INEOS chief has been joined by ally Sir Dave Brailsford for several visits, including an appearance at Old Trafford on Tuesday for a memorial service honouring the victims of the Munich Air Disaster. According to the Manchester Evening News, there has been recognition of the fact that Ratcliffe has wasted little time even as he waits for final regulatory approval for his investment.
The same publication notes that no member of the Glazer family has attended a fan-led Munich memorial service. Ratcliffe, who grew up supporting United, spoke about his fandom both during his bid to invest in United and after the late December announcement about his investment.
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"As a local boy and a lifelong supporter of the Club, I am very pleased that we have been able to agree a deal with the Manchester United Board that delegates us management responsibility of the football operations of the Club," he said. "Whilst the commercial success of the Club has ensured there have always been available funds to win trophies at the highest level, this potential has not been fully unlocked in recent times.
"We will bring the global knowledge, expertise and talent from the wider INEOS Sport group to help drive further improvement at the Club, while also providing funds intended to enable future investment into Old Trafford. We are here for the long term and recognise that a lot of challenges and hard work lie ahead, which we will approach with rigour, professionalism and passion.
"We are committed to working with everyone at the Club – the Board, staff, players and fans – to help drive the Club forward. Our shared ambition is clear: we all want to see Manchester United back where we belong, at the very top of English, European and world football."
What have you made of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first few weeks around Manchester United? Have your say in the comments section
Ratcliffe joined Sir Alex Ferguson at a Munich memorial service (PA)The Ratcliffe era has already begun to take shape, though not in the transfer market. United made no new additions to their first-team squad in January, instead offloading more than a dozen senior and under-21 players.
One of the significant new appointments is that of Omar Berrada, who will join from City Football Group as United's new CEO. Predecessor Richard Arnold left his post at the end of last year, with Patrick Stewart serving as interim CEO until Berrada takes the reins.
Ratcliffe's investment moved one step closer this week, with an SEC filing showing a special resolution had been passed at an extraordinary general meeting of the club's board. This resolution will grant enhanced voting powers to the Class B shares purchased by Ratcliffe’s INEOS corporation.
Despite not being majority owners, INEOS will be in charge of United's football operations. In addition to Ratcliffe's trips to Carrington, United staff members are said to have made the journey to Ratcliffe's home of Monaco for separate meetings.