The minority takeover, worth £1.3 billion, means Ratcliffe’s company Ineos will assume full control of all football operations. It also brings to an end 13 months of speculation from when the Glazers first announced the club was up for sale.
In a statement from the American businessmen, Joel and Avram Glazer said: “We are delighted to have agreed this deal with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.
“As part of the strategic review we announced in November 2022, we committed to look at a variety of alternatives to help enhance Manchester United, with a focus on delivering success for our men’s, women’s and Academy teams. Sir Jim and INEOS bring a wealth of commercial experience as well as significant financial commitment into the Club.
“And, through INEOS Sport, Manchester United will have access to seasoned high-performance professionals, experienced in creating and leading elite teams from both inside and outside the game. Manchester United has talented people right across the Club and our desire is to always improve at every level to help bring our great fans more success in the future.”
The comments from the Glazers came in a lengthy club statement and it was in this that United fans spotted the unique wording of one particular sentence.
Addressing Ratcliffe’s responsibilities, the statement read: “As part of the transaction, INEOS has accepted a request by the board to be delegated responsibility for the management of the club’s football operations.”
The wording did not escape United fans who immediately spotted who had requested the change. It was not Ratcliffe – a United fan who would naturally want as much control as possible over the football side – but the Glazers. The Glazers actively asked Ratcliffe to take over.
One United fan spotted the wording and posted on X: “Fits with who the Glazers are and what they want from United. As much cash for as little effort and responsibility.”
Another said: “Fluffy words to make it sound like it was their idea, when in reality INEOS will have demanded control.”
While a different fan posted: “Haha. Basically the board and the Glazers know they can’t do it.”
Upon taking over, Ratcliffe said: “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.
“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.
