A plan to oust Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Manchester United has come to light and the chatter around the Red Devils’ co-owner has only increased after speculation over a potential takeover
Eric Cantona has already made his thoughts on Sir Jim Ratcliffe crystal clear after being linked with a potential Manchester United takeover. The Red Devils icon has been mentioned amid fresh investment talk from the Middle East.
Takeover rumours were sparked over the international break when Saudi sports kingpin Turki Al-Sheikh stated an investor was close to striking a deal for United. He was later forced to clarify that he was not the potential investor.
talkSPORT has since reported that a UAE-based consortium has contacted several United legends about being part of a potential takeover. According to United Stand, Cantona has held direct talks over potentially taking up an ambassadorial role that would see him back a prospective consortium.
The Frenchman, who made 185 appearances for United between 1992 and 1997, would welcome a change of ownership at United, having been critical of both the Glazers and minority owner Ratcliffe, whose Ineos group took control of football operations in early 2024 after paying £1.25billion for a 27.7 per cent stake in the club.
Speaking in April at an event at non-league FC United of Manchester, the club founded by unhappy United fans in the wake of the controversial takeover by the Glazers in 2005, Cantona gave a scathing assessment of Ratcliffe’s tenure.
“Since Ratcliffe arrived this team of directors try to destroy everything and they don’t respect anybody,” said Cantona, a co-owner of FC United.
“I feel sad to see United in this kind of situation. They decided something else. They have another strategy, another project. I support United because I really love United, but now if I was a fan and I had to choose a club I don’t think I would choose United.”
United’s fortunes have not improved since Ratcliffe bought into the club, while mass staff cuts have been made off the pitch. Despite underwhelming performances under current head coach Ruben Amorim, Ratcliffe is determined to give the Portuguese time to turn things around.
“He has not had the best of seasons. Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years. That’s where I would be,” he told The Times’ The Business podcast earlier this month.
“The press, sometimes I don’t understand. They want overnight success. They think it’s a light switch. You know, you flick a switch and it’s all going to be roses tomorrow. You can’t run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week.”
Ratcliffe has come in for criticism after controversial cuts designed to drive down costs saw around 450 jobs axed and the removal of perks like subsidised staff lunches. He said: “The costs were just too high.
“There are some fantastic people at Manchester United, but there was also a level of mediocrity and it had become bloated. I got a lot of flak for the free lunches, but no-one’s ever given me a free lunch.”
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