Manchester United: Welcome to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's revolution as major coups targeted for cultural change

The British billionaire is plotting revolution not evolution with Omar Berrada though and door and Dan Ashworth expected to follow
Pete Hall16 February 2024

His 25 per cent stake is not ratified yet, but the moves Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team are making indicate his intention with Manchester United is for revolution rather than evolution.

With the investment in United now approved by the Premier League and the FA — only final formalities will delay ratification into next week — Ratcliffe has been conducting an audit of the club, overseen by former head of British Cycling Sir Dave Brailsford, and he's already helped secure a major coup, with more to come.

Omar Berrada has been sensationally poached from rivals Manchester City to become the club's new CEO, with Newcastle's Dan Ashworth set to become United's new sporting director. All before Ratcliffe and Brailsford have even been given their own desk at the Carrington training base.

Reassuringly for supporters, Ratcliffe's decision to prioritise structural reform before spending millions on players signals he wants to create lasting cultural change at a club which has long had a hierarchy not fit for purpose. Proposals to redevelop Old Trafford into the "Wembley of the north" could take the best part of a decade to complete and can be taken as another sign that the long-term growth of the club is at the heart of Ratcliffe's vision.

New dawn: Sir Jim Ratcliffe is already making his mark with the signing of Dan Ashworth to bolster United
PA

Ratcliffe, Brailsford and Joel Glazer will sit on a three-man committee overseeing football matters. Through their early meetings with staff, Brailsford has identified United as a "performance challenge".

The decision to go for Ashworth, regarded as the best in the business at overhauling transfer departments and club operations, makes a huge statement, especially so soon after the Berrada coup. Standard Sport understands United have made contact with Ashworth about becoming the club's sporting director but no official negotiations have begun.

Brailsford wants to see if bringing in Ashworth is possible, given he is only two years into his Newcastle project, before pursuing others. The next phase of negotiations will be complex, with several sources insisting Newcastle will demand a substantial compensation fee.

It is understood Ratcliffe and Ineos are willing to pay to bring in a figure they believe is the most important investment to get their Old Trafford revolution off the ground quickly, but funds for such a deal are not limitless.

If they follow a similar trajectory they would be on course to win the League and Champions League

A head of recruitment is also to be sought, while there are plans for an overhaul of the scouting department. It has been reported that Southampton director of football Jason Wilcox is a target to work for Ashworth, with Brighton's Sam Jewell another option.

Talk of signing individual players has been sparse —something that should delight supporters. A Uefa report this week revealed the squad is the most expensively assembled group of players in history, eclipsing Real Madrid's 2020 roster. Within two years of setting the previous record, Real had won the Champions League and La Liga.

If United were to follow a similar trajectory they would be on course to win next season's Premier League and Champions League, a competition they are struggling to even qualify for. Last season's Carabao Cup was their first trophy since 2017.

Further big-money player signings are not going to be the catalyst for change, and Ratcliffe and Ineos are fully aware of this. Brailsford's critics have laughed at the prospect of a cycling supremo running a football club, but while he may not know who is the best left-back to suit Erik ten Hag's style of play, Ashworth and his team probably will.

Berrada knows a thing or two about creating a trophy-accumulating behemoth too — just ask the neighbours.

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