It’s been a transformative yet turbulent year since Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the INEOS billionaire, took a minority stake in Manchester United in early 2024, assuming control of the club’s sporting operations. In a series of revealing interviews with major British outlets and a podcast with Garry Neville, Ratcliffe has laid bare his brutal assessment of the club’s state. He did not mince any words, going on to name-check five players from his squad which he thinks are overrated. United are struggling in the Premier League, sitting at the bottom half of the points table. Here are five standout revelations from his recent comments that underscore his bold, no-nonsense approach.
Plan to Build a New Stadium
Ratcliffe is dreaming big for Manchester United’s future home, signalling a seismic shift from the ageing Old Trafford. Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap, he declared a new stadium “definitely deliverable,” arguing that “the greatest club in the world” should have a venue matching its stature and the Premier League’s prestige. United is poised to confirm a new 100,000-seater stadium—costing an estimated £2 billion—over redeveloping the current site, with designs by acclaimed architect Norman Foster.
Name-Checked Overrated Players
Ratcliffe took a jibe at the squad he inherited, spotlighting players he deems overpaid or underperforming. In his BBC interview, he listed Antony, Casemiro, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund, and Jadon Sancho—whose transfer fees exceed £300 million—as costly relics of past mismanagement, with United still owing significant sums. “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid,” he said.
Sticking with Ten Hag Was the Biggest Mistake
Ratcliffe didn’t shy away from owning up to a major misstep: retaining Erik ten Hag after the FA Cup triumph in May 2024. Despite that high, Ten Hag was sacked in October amid a dire league season, a decision Ratcliffe now calls his biggest regret. “It was a wrong decision, it was an error,” he admitted to Neville. He cited “mitigating circumstances,” like the untested football structure he’d just installed, but conceded that indecision cost them.
Showed Faith in Ruben Amorim
In stark contrast to his Ten Hag regrets, Ratcliffe exudes confidence in current head coach Ruben Amorim. “I really, really like Ruben,” he told The Times, savouring their frank exchanges over coffee at the training ground. Despite United languishing in 14th place, Ratcliffe praised Amorim’s work with a squad missing key high-earners, telling the BBC, “I think he will be there for a long time.”
Club Will Go Bust by December If They Don’t Fire Redundant Staff
Perhaps Ratcliffe’s most dramatic claim was that Manchester United would “go bust at Christmas” without aggressive cost-cutting, including firing up to 450 staff in two redundancy waves. “The club runs out of money at Christmas if we don’t do those things,” he told the BBC, framing cuts like ending free lunches and slashing over $125 million in expenses as existential necessities.
