A host of Manchester United fans are viewing Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the man to dig them out of the mire the Glazers have entrenched the club in.
A report on Wednesday said the British billionaire is serious in submitting a takeover bid for the Reds, whom he supports. The 70-year-old first announced an interest in United in August but cooled interest in October by insisting that the Glazers “don’t want to sell”.
Then in recent weeks, an Ineos spokesperson said the company were “focusing” on French club OGC Nice, who they purchased in 2019. But the mooted u-turn will re-ignite excitement among the United fanbase, only this time with more vigour after the Glazers confirmed they are exploring potentially selling up.
READ MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe to bid for Manchester United after Glazers put club up for sale
The unpopularity of the current owners has risen to new heights over the past year amid United’s on-pitch woes. Erik ten Hag has managed to steady the ship but matters away from the field continue to rumble on.
The club is still in a mass of debt as a result of the Glazer Family's leveraged purchase of the club, as they continue to hand out dividends to shareholders at the Old Trafford club.
The owners have already sanctioned plans to rejuvenate the Theatre of Dreams and it's something that was mentioned by Ratcliffe's spokesperson during August's initial declaration of interest.
Meanwhile, in his controversial interview with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo detailed he was surprised by the lack of evolution around Carrington.
It’s also a point Gary Neville has publicly expressed his concern about. Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, there have been some questionable marquee signings too.
Alex Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba were bought for huge sums but ultimately failed to impress and succeed. The fans have long had enough and anti-Glazer chants are now commonplace during matches with regular protests still in action.
The Glazers came into United in 2005 attaining knowledge of how to run a US franchise in NFL giants Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But they have found out that running a worldwide UK powerhouse is a completely different beast.
This is where Ratcliffe differs. With Ineos having vested financial interests in Formula One and cycling, he also knows how to operate within the elite European sports field.
But more crucially he has experience in running a historic European football club with OGC Nice. And when his company completed their takeover of the Ligue 1 outfit in 2019, he outlined that he knew what was required in football club management.
"Clubs need to be successful off the pitch, as well as on it, and Nice will be no different," he said. That emphasis on off-field matters is something Ratcliffe clearly knows the importance of, and that can only benefit United.
The comment shows he attains the right mindset and possesses the correct blueprint that the Reds need going forward.
Ineos are said to be careful to ensure their investments reap benefits when they enact takeovers - but it appears that would not necessarily be his aim should he purchase United.
"No, we’re not interested in making money out of Chelsea," Ratcliffe said when involved in talks to Purchase the Stamford Bridge outfit in the summer. "Can we run that club really, really well and turn it into one of the finest clubs in Europe? That’s our ambition with Chelsea."
That would therefore suggest reinvestment in the club and no dividend take-outs, which is exciting given his intentions about Old Trafford and beyond. Just what United are longing for.
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