“I’ve spoken to…” Rio Ferdinand reveals INEOS moment that “excited” Man United’s new owners

Rio Ferdinand has revealed a conversation with some within the INEOS team following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 27.7% of Manchester United.

It has been almost ten months since Manchester United announced that the British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe had acquired 27.7% of the club, becoming a co-owner alongside Joel Glazer and his siblings.

Since the announcement came in late December, the club has seen wholesale changes at almost every level as the INEOS-led leadership team, with many faces above Erik ten Hag changing.

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They have appointed a new CEO, Omar Berrada, a new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, while Sir Dave Brailsford, Jean-Claude Blanc, Jason Wilcox and others have all been granted senior roles on the club’s board.

There have also been many changes to the staff. The club is expected to see around 250 jobs cut as part of a cost-saving programme implemented by Ratcliffe, while high-profile ambassador and former manager Sir Alex Ferguson has seen his £2 million a year contract cancelled.

On the field, the club saw multiple new incomings and outgoings. Five new senior signings, such as Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte, joined the club, while an influx of young Academy talent also arrived.

At the same time, the club saw 14 first-team players depart either permanently, on loan, or released from their contracts, raising over £100 million in sales.

Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, former United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed his conversation with INEOS representatives about their reaction once they were installed within the club.

Ferdinand explained that those he spoke to were shocked and excited at the magnitude of the club. Despite having purchased 27.7% of United, Ratcliffe’s team was still amazed at its sheer scale, both locally and globally.

“The magnitude of the club you don’t ever know till you walk through that door,” he explained to his two co-hosts on the episode.

“I’ve spoken to some members of the INEOS team who have gone into the club now and they all go, ‘I didn’t realise it was this big’.

“They’re delighted with it, it has excited them even more, but they didn’t even know that it was the way it is, how big it is around the world. Not just locally. Even some players come in and go, ‘Wow’. They’re on the back foot from the first go.”

INEOS’ big next task surrounds the manager. Ten Hag is under a huge amount of pressure after poor results have followed his contract extension, and many are calling for the Dutchman to be sacked.

However, the club’s leadership team has chosen to keep him in the office for the time being, although a change may be needed if results continue to fluctuate.

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