Sir Dave Brailsford, the director of sport at INEOS owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is poised to instigate changes at Manchester United that played a role in Cristiano Ronaldo’s contentious departure from the club.
Brailsford, the former performance director at British Cycling, has conducted a discreet audit behind the scenes as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership deal awaits official ratification, preparing to assume sporting control from the Glazer family.
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His presence at recent United matches, including sitting alongside Sir Alex Ferguson during the disappointing 2-1 defeat by Nottingham Forest, underscores his involvement.
Brailsford is collecting data on the club’s current operations and identifying areas for enhancement once INEOS finalizes the acquisition.
According to Sky Sports, he is set to tackle concerns raised by Ronaldo during his November 2022 interview with Piers Morgan.
Ronaldo had strongly criticized various aspects at United, asserting that no significant changes had occurred in the 12 years between his departure to Real Madrid in 2009 and his return from Juventus in 2021.
“I was surprised, in a bad way, let’s say in that way because I saw everything was the same,” he said.
He added: “At United, the progress was zero, in my opinion. To compare with Real Madrid and even Juventus, that they follow the rest of the world, so the technology, especially in terms of training, nutrition and conditions of, eat properly and to recover better than before – surprised me.
“Manchester right now to compare with that club, I think it’s behind in my opinion, which is something that surprised me. A club with this dimension should be the top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately.”
Brailsford is anticipated to initiate a cultural shift at United, addressing the team’s challenges in on-field consistency since Ferguson’s departure as manager in May 2013.
There are discussions about a potential renovation of Old Trafford, supported by Ratcliffe’s commitment of £245 million to the project. Additionally, enhancements at the training ground are deemed necessary.
Ratcliffe’s statement 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.”
In October, United revealed a newly constructed facility at Carrington, costing £7 million, dedicated to the women’s team and academy sides.
The building, completed in seven months, includes amenities such as a gym, jacuzzi, changing rooms, players’ lounge, restaurant, and meeting rooms.
