Man Utd takeover

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      Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s top team pay visit to Old Trafford as Ten Hag issues major warning about tough return to glory days

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      ERIK TEN HAG has warned Sir Jim Ratcliffe that returning Manchester United to their glory days is the toughest job in football.Ratcliffe’s £1.3billion stake in the club moved a step closer last night as a delegation of his closest aides – including cycling guru Sir Dave Brailsford – visited Old Trafford.
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s right-hand man Sir David Brailsford visited Old TraffordCredit: Rex
      Jean-Claude Blanc is set to be United’s new CEOCredit: AFP
      Former Great Britain and Team Sky cycling boss 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.
      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 Ten Hag has been told replicating United’s trophy-winning dynasty under legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson is “impossible.”
      Ten Hag declared: “This is the most difficult job to do. But I want the challenge.”
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      The Dutchman is the fifth permanent Red Devils boss since Fergie stepped down after 27 years in charge back in 2013.
      And the former Ajax boss added: “A big, successful club was constructed, which then dropped in the last 10 years.
      “Everyone was telling me: ‘You can’t succeed in that job.’ They said it was impossible.
      “Me? I wanted the challenge. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it was such a great club with such a great fanbase.
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      “People love Man Utd or they are against them. I like clubs like this. Ajax was like this.”
      Rather than be in awe of the glittering success Ferguson presided over, he has been inspired by that era, particularly United’s comeback 1999 European Cup triumph which completed the Treble.
      In an interview with fanzine United We Stand, Ten Hag continued: “I loved the teams of Sir Alex, that win in Barcelona. It was inspiring.
      “Nobody thought United would beat Bayern Munich.
      “But I didn’t realise the belief, determination, resilience, with  Schmeichel, Keane, Cole, Irwin, Beckham, Giggs and Scholes…”
      Ten Hag had a good first year in charge finishing third and reaching two domestic cup finals, winning the Carabao Cup – the club’s first silverware in six years.
      There has been a downturn this season, with 10 DEFEATS in 22 games, but ETH refuses to wobble.
      He said: “In my first year, I don’t think we could have expected better.
      “I know everyone hopes we win the league and when that doesn’t happen there will be disappointment, but we came from a point where we had to rebuild.
      “Last season was very good. This season has not been so far, but I stress the ‘so far’ bit. We’ve had a lot of setbacks, but then there are setbacks in every project.
      “We’ve had problems which we have to solve and in the background we are sorting out problems.
      “We will take advantage of these decisions in the future, but we have to come through this difficult period and we will.
      “We are building and I see through the cloud and see a bright future here. I see positive things.”
      Brailsford won six Tour de France titles at Sky and oversaw GB’s world and Olympic cycling success.
      He was then asked by United fan Ratcliffe to oversee his sporting organisations, which include a part share of the F1 Mercedes team, French Ligue 1 side Nice and Swiss team FC Lausanne.
      Blanc previously worked at Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain and was appointed CEO of Ineos Sport in December 2022.
      United’s owners the Glazer family first announced they were considering selling the club a year ago.
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      A source revealed: “The United investment is moving forward so it’s expected that some of Sir Jim’s top people spend time at United meeting people.
      “Sir David and Jean-Claude are both very experienced and can’t wait to get stuck into helping improve United’s fortunes on the pitch.”
      Erik ten Hag believes being Man Utd manager is a tough as it gets in footballCredit: EPA More

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      Marcus Rashford ‘believes he is playing all right and will be at the club longer than Ten Hag’, ex-Man Utd star blasts

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      MANCHESTER UNITED cult hero Paul Parker has urged Marcus Rashford to “look in the mirror” and admit his performances have been below par this season.Rashford has struggled to replicate last term’s stunning campaign that brought him 30 goals and 11 assists in 56 appearances.
      Manchester United star Marcus Rashford was criticised by Paul ParkerCredit: PA
      Parker claims Rashford is playing like he knows he will be at the club longer than manager Erik ten HagCredit: Getty
      Rashford was taken off by Ten hag during the defeat at NewcastleCredit: EPA
      He has only two goals and four assists in 18 games this season and was sent off at Copenhagen and subbed off at Newcastle – but Parker believes the England forward cannot admit his performances are simply not up to scratch.
      In fact, the former defender feels like Rashford is playing like he knows he will be at United longer than Erik ten Hag, following reports suggesting the Dutchman has lost the dressing room.
      Parker told mybettingsites.co.uk: “It’s quite easy to go back to basics. What you do is to embrace the people around you, which are your so-called team-mates.
      “But what you have to do is to look in the mirror and believe that you are having a bad time, and I think Rashford believes he is playing all right. He believes he is doing enough.
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      “He came off the pitch against Newcastle. He should be disappointed, shake his hands with his manager, who should tell him that he supports him in a bad time.
      “But I don’t think Rashford believes that he is having a bad time. I think he really thinks that he doesn’t deserve to be subbed off.
      “A lot of players don’t realise that it’s a team game. Marcus Rashford can only find his form if he actually looks in the mirror and realises that he is having a bad time.
      “He believes that he will be at Man United longer than Erik ten Hag. The manager is the players´ commodity.
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      “The players have played under a lot of managers, but now they should really decide to stick with him.
      “The only way it can be done is that the players shut up or they get out.
      “They have to give Erik ten Hag a chance instead of moaning. They are not going to win the battle against Erik ten Hag.” More

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      Man Utd running out of time to convince rivals to alter Champions League rules and could face impossible task to qualify

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      EUROPE’S top clubs are split over a possible Champions League ban for Manchester United.SunSport revealed how Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ownership of French side Nice, who sit second in Ligue 1, means United might have to WIN the Prem to qualify for next season’s competition.
      Man Utd may have to win the Premier League to make next year’s Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to buy 25 per cent of Man UtdCredit: AFP
      This is because of Uefa “integrity” rules.
      Ratcliffe hopes to own a chunk of United by next season.
      He is currently finalising a deal to buy 25 per cent of the club for £1.3billion.
      Meanwhile, some clubs want Uefa bosses to rewrite the rulebook to allow “multi club ownership” teams to play in the same competition.
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      That includes a number of sides in the powerful European Club Association, which has board members — including Manchester City’s Ferran Soriano — who are part of multi-club organisations.
      But other ECA clubs are resisting changes — with the idea of clubs under the same umbrella being able to only meet in the knockout stage being seen as a step too far.
      And finding a solution in time for next season is seeming increasingly unlikely.
      NERD NELSON
      FORGET “sexy football” as Irish FA chief Patrick Nelson thinks VAR is  football’s eye-catcher.
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      Most of Tuesday’s Heathrow session of the International FA Board was about what Welsh FA boss Noel Mooney described as the “cancer” of poor player behaviour and its impact on refs.
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      Nelson added: “We often get tied into the sexy stuff here about semi-automated offside technology or referees announcing decisions after a VAR on-field review.
      “But a lot of what we talked about was behaviour and culture in the game.”
      “Sexy”? Not even for nerds like me.
      REBEL CLUBS’ RULING HOPE
      SUPER League rebels are still hoping for salvation from next month’s European Court  ruling — which  is expected to sound the project’s death knell.
      Real Madrid, Barcelona and their PR arm, A22, believe the 12-month wait for the final verdict of the Luxembourg court means there could still be a change from the “non-binding opinion” of its advocate general.
      That argued almost entirely in favour of Fifa and Uefa and their right to sanction clubs who tried to create a breakaway competition.
      The insurgents, though, believe the December 21 final ruling may give them some leeway to go it alone without the fear of punishment.
      GAME ON
      UEFA’S latest win over Fifa has come off-pitch in the virtual realm.
      Fifa’s three-decade partnership with EA Sports on the world’s best-selling football video game ended last season, with it now going under the game makers’ name.
      That has left a gap for Euro chiefs with “Uefa Euro 2024” to be a free update for EA Sports FC 24 before next summer.
      PACK YOUR BAGGIES
      FORMER Chelsea, West Brom and Reading chief exec Ron Gourlay is tipped as English football’s next export to Saudi.
      The Scot, who left the Baggies in the summer, is lined up to join Pro League high-fliers Al-Ahli.
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      The squad includes Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin.
      It’s a long way from Dundee, Ron. More

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      Man Utd ‘target former PSG and Juventus chief to take over from Richard Arnold as CEO’ in major boardroom overhaul

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly targeting Jean-Claude Blanc to take over as their new CEO. The Red Devils announced earlier today that Richard Arnold would be leaving his position as CEO after 16 years with the club.
      Manchester United are reportedly targeting Jean-Claude Blanc as their new CEOCredit: AFP
      The club has announced Richard Arnold would be stepping down from his position as Chief ExecutiveCredit: PA
      Arnold is being temporarily replaced by Patrick Stewart who will come in as interim Chief Executive.
      And talkSPORT have reported that Blanc is being lined up as his permanent replacement.
      The Frenchman currently oversees the sporting portfolio at INEOS the company owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
      British billionaire Ratcliffe is expected to complete his 25 percent acquisition of Manchester United in the coming days.
      READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS
      And it is understood that he has made the decision to replace Arnold with Blanc going forward.
      Jean-Claude Blanc has a history within football and previously worked for both Paris Saint Germain and Juventus.

      The 60-year-old was a sports marketing executive for the Parisians and held a brief spell as CEO at Juve.
      Ratcliffe and his colleagues are expected to take control of football operations when his takeover is completed.
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      And the introduction of a well known CEO would help him to change things up as Man Utd go through a period of transition.
      There has also been new investment in the club this week as US billionaire Leon Cooperman bought just shy of ONE MILLION shares in the Manchester giants.
      Although his £13.5m investment is significantly less than the £1.4bn that Ratcliffe is expected to pay for his 25 percent stake.
      Blanc works for INEOS which is owned by Sir Jim RatcliffeCredit: Getty More

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      Major Man Utd takeover update as billionaire buys one million shares just days before Sir Jim Ratcliffe deal secured

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      US BILLIONAIRE Leon Cooperman has invested in Manchester United in an unexpected twist in the takeover saga. The former hedge fund manager, 80, has bought just shy of ONE MILLION shares in the Red Devils.
      US Billionaire Leon Cooperman has bought just under one million shares in Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
      The news comes days before Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to complete a 25 percent take over of the clubCredit: PA
      Cooperman’s shares are understood to be valued at around £13.5million.
      But he could invest more in the future with his net worth reportedly sitting at well over £2BILLION.
      The American is the founder of Omega Advisors which is an investment firm based in New York City.
      The news comes just days before British billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to secure his 25 per cent takeover of the club.
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      Cooperman’s stake will be significantly less than that owned by Ratcliffe who is expected to pay £1.4billion for his quarter control of the Manchester giants.
      Cooperman joins funds like Psquared Asset Management AG, which bought a stake valued around £20million, Antara Capital (£24million) and Eminence Capital (£14million) in buying Man Utd shares since takeover speculation started late last year.
      And it’s relatively small size means that it is not expected to have any impact on Ratcliffe’s imminent deal.
      According to Sky Sports, Ineos owner Ratfcliffe will also invest £245m into the infrastructure of the club.
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      But despite an influx of new investors at Old Trafford, the Glazer family will still retain the majority share of the club.
      However Ratcliffe and his colleagues are expected to take control of football operations when his takeover is completed.
      The 71-year-old has experience in high level sport with his company Ineos owning and investing across a number of different sports teams.
      They own both Ligue 1 outfit OCG Nice and Swiss Super League side FC Lausanne-Sport.
      As well as having their own extremely successful cycling team that competes in the Tour de France. More

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      Man Utd have two ‘potential replacements’ in mind with Ten Hag ‘on thin ice’ according to ‘senior source’ at club

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have two potential alternatives in mind to replace manager Erik ten Hag who is “on thin ice”, reports suggest.Ten Hag has overseen United’s worst start to a season in 61 years with his team languishing in eighth place after losing five out of their first 10 Premier League games, of which they have won the other half.
      Man Utd manager Ten Hag is on “thin ice” after a terrible start to the seasonCredit: Getty
      Manchester United are considering Zinedine Zidane to replace Erik ten HagCredit: AP
      Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim is also a top target for Man UtdCredit: Reuters
      According to The Times, a “senior source” believes the Red Devils’ two most recent heavy losses to Manchester City and Newcastle at Old Trafford have left the Dutch tactician at serious risk of being sacked.
      That is why club chiefs are already thinking ahead and view Zinedine Zidane as well as Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim as potential replacements.
      Zidane has been a free agent since 2021 after his second stint as Real Madrid manager came to an end following a staggering three Champions League triumphs across both tenures.
      Amorim, on the other hand, is considered a rising star as he led Sporting to their first league title in 19 years in his first full season in charge two years ago.
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      However, there are major complications due to the club’s ongoing ownership saga.
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe is still waiting to complete his 25 per cent purchase of the club, which could see him run all sporting matters.

      Ratcliffe’s partial takeover could affect chief executive Richard Arnold’s position, and he will be needed if United decide to look for a new manager at this time.
      The Red Devils have previously expressed confidence on Ten Hag and, according to Fabrizio Romano, club sources claim there have been no moves to replace him.
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      Sir Jim is said to be looking to make changes in other key positions, such as finding a new chief executive and sporting director as well as establishing a new football board.
      However, there have been reports that the players are losing faith in Ten Hag.
      Reports suggested there have been complaints regarding his tactics, which led to showdown talks in the dressing room after the loss to City, and training methods, which some feel have led to injuries. More

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      Man City fans taunt Man Utd supporters with cheeky Glazers chant after Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover update

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      MANCHESTER CITY fans taunted rival United supporters with a cheeky chant about the Glazers. The American Old Trafford owners have been under pressure by the United faithful to leave the club after 13 unpopular years.
      Man City fans taunted rival United supporters with a cheeky chant about the GlazersCredit: Getty
      And they looked set to finally do so having put the footballing giants up for sale.
      United fans looked on course to celebrate new owners after Sheikh Jassim closed in on a multibillion deal.
      But that was until he withdrew his £5BILLION offer – leaving Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the clear to take over.
      Britain’s richest man has since agreed a £1.35billion deal for a 25 per cent takeover of the Red Devils.
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      It will mean the Glazers will still remain at the club – something City fans are clearly happy with.
      They chanted during their home match with Brighton: “Glazers staying 10 more years.”
      Despite a slight delay to that being confirmed, the Ineos chief wants to be granted control of football operations at United. 
      And he is hoping to be in charge for the January transfer window.
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      Ratcliffe is believed to be an admirer of under-pressure boss Erik ten Hag.
      But the futures of Richard Arnold and John Murtough under Ratcliffe remain unclear.
      A number of the six strong Glazer family members on the United board were happy to sell to Sheikh Jassim entirely.
      But Joel Glazer, in control of the process, was in favour of keeping majority shares in the club, unless Jassim upped his bid again.
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe is closing in on a Man Utd takeoverCredit: AFP

      Avram and Joel GlazerCredit: AFP More

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      Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% Man Utd takeover ‘DELAYED’ with Brit desperate to be in charge before January transfer window

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      SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S £1.35billion 25 per cent takeover of Manchester United has been delayed, according to reports.The 70-year-old’s bid was initially expected to be given the green light in a Red Devils board meeting this week.
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Man Utd takeover has been delayedCredit: PA
      Sheikh Jassim withdrew from the race last week, clearing the path for Ratcliffe to agree a minority stake with the Glazer family.
      But according to the Telegraph, there are still finer details with Ratcliffe’s bid that need to be ironed out.
      They claim that a deal is still expected within the next fortnight, however, with Ratcliffe keen to get started.
      The Ineos chief wants to be granted control of football operations at United.
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      He is hoping to have attained control ahead of the January transfer window.
      Ratcliffe is claimed to be an admirer of under-pressure boss Erik ten Hag.
      But the futures of Richard Arnold and John Murtough under Ratcliffe remain unclear.
      The British tycoon still hopes to complete a full takeover one day.
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      It’s claimed that he wants clauses attached to his initial bid that lay the path for a future offer.
      Prior to any deal with Ratcliffe going through, the Glazer family possess 96 per cent of the voting rights on United’s board, despite owning 69 per cent of the club.
      Their voting rights are expected to be “diluted” following Ratcliffe’s arrival.
      SunSport revealed that Old Trafford employees had been gearing up for Sheikh Jassim to complete his full takeover as recently as this month.
      They were then left stunned by the news that the Qatari had pulled out.
      A number of the six strong Glazer family members on the United board were happy to sell to Sheikh Jassim entirely.
      But Joel Glazer, in control of the process, was in favour of keeping majority shares in the club, unless Jassim upped his bid again.
      Joel Glazer was in favour of keeping a majority stake in the Red DevilsCredit: The Mega Agency More