Sir Jim Ratcliffe taking UEFA to court over “unfair” Manchester United transfer decision

Manchester United are taking UEFA to court over a transfer decision that Sir Jim Ratcliffe labelled “unfair” earlier this month.

Manchester United urgently need defensive reinforcements this summer after conceding 81 goals across all competitions, including a record 52 in the Premier League.

With Raphaël Varane departing and the futures of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf, and Jonny Evans uncertain, the club have been scouting multiple potential options over the last month, including Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and OGC Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo.

Read More: Sir Jim Ratcliffe slams Premier League issue as Man United contract deadline revealed

Although they were reportedly close to securing Todibo’s services, news broke earlier this month that UEFA had ruled against United’s signing of the 24-year-old Frenchman due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s stake in both United and the Ligue 1 club.

Ratcliffe was quick to react, labelling the decision unfair in a recent interview and explaining further that he does not understand what UEFA is trying to achieve.

“We’ve got a player in Nice who was really interested in joining Manchester United, and I think he probably has the capability of being in the Manchester United squad,” Ratcliffe said.

“They’ve said we can sell him to another Premiership club, but we can’t sell him to Manchester United, which is unfair. really. I don’t see what that achieves.”

Now, in a new twist, it is said that INEOS, Ratcliffe’s company that controls all sporting matters at Old Trafford, will challenge the legality of UEFA’s decision.

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, INEOS has now hired the Swiss lawyer Gianpaolo Monteneri to plead in favour of United before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“INEOS wants to complete the transfer of Jean-Clair Todibo to Manchester United!” Tavolieri published.

“The English company specializing in the chemicals sector is contesting the regulations put in place and has hired Swiss lawyer Gianpaolo Monteneri to plead before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in favour of the arrival of the defender OGC Nice at MUFC.”

No time frame is explained surrounding whether the club will be able to successfully appeal before the end of the transfer window, but the outcome will still be important as Ratcliffe has already revealed how he feels the two clubs could benefit from each other if transfers between them are allowed.

“I think Nice could be very complimentary to United for two reasons,” Ratcliffe explained.

“One, you can blood younger players in Nice better than at United. Occasionally, you get a Kobbie Mainoo, but it can be harder to blood player at United, and that would obviously be of benefit to Nice.”

He continued: “Secondly, because of Brexit, it’s quite difficult to contact the younger generational talents in Europe, but Nice can do that. So if there’s a fantastic 15-year-old in France we can sign him up to Nice and use them as a conduit to United later on.”

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