SIR JIM RATCLIFFE could be set for an awkward encounter with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes when he arrives at the club.
The Ineos chief has agreed to purchse a 25 per cent stake in the club and will oversee football operations at Old Trafford.
But Ratcliffe’s introduction to the squad could prove to be a little awkward following a comment he made about Fernandes.
In the opening page of his book ‘Introducing Grit, Rigour & Humour: The Ineos Story’, Ratcliffe recalls a trip to Cook Island where he watched a local rugby match.
He marvelled at the physicality on show, claiming he felt the ground tremble every time one player smashed into another – with one player even breaking his leg.
The Brit then compared that to Fernandes, who he mocked for “clutching his untouched face” in the 7-0 defeat to Liverpool in March.
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Fernandes has often been criticised for his theatrics on the pitch and several fans took aim at the midfielder for going down too easily against the Reds.
Meanwhile Ratcliffe’s top team including former cycling boss Sir Dave Brailsford and ex-Juventus CEO Jean-Claude Blanc held a series of high-level talks with senior United staff, including director of football John Murtough and interim chief exec Patrick Stewart last week.
The visit is the first time Brailsford and Blanc have set foot inside Old Trafford since they accompanied British billionaire and Ineos chemicals chief Ratcliffe on an initial visit in March.
And manager Erik ten Hag has been told replicating United’s trophy-winning dynasty under legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson is “impossible.”
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United had been hoping to announce the arrival of Ratcliffe’s investment ahead of Tuesday’s crucial Champions League game against Bayern Munich.
But issues relating to the legal structure of the deal mean that the takeover could be delayed for now.
Fans of United will be left frustrated by a process that has taken over a year now to complete.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
