Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team made an approach for one largely influential Manchester United legend over a role at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United co-owner saw his Ineos team take control of football operations at the Red Devils after his minority stake purchase in 2023.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has vowed to restore the Red Devils’ prestige and to knock both Liverpool and Manchester City ‘off their perch’ in the future.
The 71-year-old boyhood United fan is overseeing sweeping changes at Old Trafford, including pushing for an end to the work-from-home opportunities for staff.
Ratcliffe’s emergence at United has also seen the arrival of key figures like Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox and Dan Ashworth in important roles behind the scenes.
Omar Berrada has become chief executive at United, while Jason Wilcox and Dan Ashworth are the technical director and the sporting director respectively.
Erik ten Hag has also retained his position at United under Ratcliffe after Ineos launched an end-of-season review in the aftermath of the FA Cup final.
The United manager has inked a new contract extension and has seen the arrival of club legend Ruud van Nisterooy and Rene Hake as part of his coaching staff.
Ratcliffe’s deal, which was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023, secured a 27.7 per cent stake in United and was worth a staggering £1.25bn.
The Ineos chief has also promised a further £237m to be used for the future investment in the Old Trafford stadium.
Ratcliffe and Ineos make contract with Man Utd legend
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spoken about his admiration for Manchester United’s history and also his three Red Devils heroes, including his favourite player at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe is a big fan of Eric Cantona and the United legend was asked if anyone from Ineos had approached him about a sensational return to Old Trafford.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Eric Cantona initially ‘paused’ when he asked about any potential Ineos interest in him before confirming there has been contact.
The 58-year-old Frenchman revealed the interest wasn’t for an ambassador role, but Cantona claimed that his role would make him “really involved” in the project.
“Yes,” Cantona said, before adding: “I don’t know, I have to think about it. But, for sure, if I do something, it is something that can really help the club.
“You know, it’s not being an ambassador. Really involved. Of course, I don’t want to be a manager. But I have to think about it, and he has to think about it.
“We think about maybe something. Or maybe not. Maybe (singing). Maybe yes, maybe no.
“Maybe yes, maybe no. It’s all about maybe. Maybe I will be alive tomorrow. Maybe I will be dead.”
Cantona talks Ratcliffe and Ineos at Man Utd
Eric Cantona admitted that he is optimistic for United’s future and feels it’s the “right decision” for Ineos to be in charge of football operations at Old Trafford.
“I think Manchester United now with Jim Ratcliffe, they try to rebuild the foundations of the club,” he said.
“I think in the near future they will come back at their best. For sure, it’s the right decision to have Jim Ratcliffe and his team in charge of sports at Manchester United.
“We speak a lot about players and managers, but sometimes we minimise the importance of the chairmen and the people who are really in charge of the club.
“You can see with Chelsea since [Roman] Abramovich left, it’s not the same club. It’s very, very important today Manchester United have somebody like Ratcliffe in charge of the club in a sports way.”