Since finalizing his acquisition as part-owner of the club, INEOS chief Ratcliffe has endured one of the darkest periods in Manchester United’s history.
The team currently sits in 14th place in the Premier League standings, a position that could lead to their worst league finish since the competition’s inception in 1992. ..Continue Reading
Ratcliffe has now addressed the problems plaguing the club, pointing to five players as major contributors to its struggles.
One of the key criticisms directed at Ratcliffe since his arrival has been the financial management of the club under his leadership.
In response to this criticism, Ratcliffe tackled the issue head-on during a revealing interview with BBC Sport.
“If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.” said Ratcliffe.
“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17m to buy him in the summer.”
“It takes time for us to move away from the past into a new place in the future,” Ratcliffe said.
When asked further if his comments meant that these five players were not good enough for United, Ratcliffe added: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.
“We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.
“There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer. We definitely need Bruno, he’s a fantastic footballer.”
All five players criticized by Ratcliffe in his explosive interview have faced challenges during their time at Manchester United, leaving some fans questioning their continued presence at the club.
Antony, much like Sancho, is currently on loan at La Liga side Real Betis after failing to live up to expectations since joining United in 2022 for a hefty £81.5 million transfer fee from Ajax.
Among those named by the INEOS chairman, Casemiro has arguably drawn the most scrutiny recently as he struggles to secure his spot in the starting eleven, despite earning a substantial £350,000 per week salary.
