MANCHESTER – British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, who attended his first Manchester United game on Jan 14 since striking a deal to take a minority stake in the club, called his investment the most “exciting” endeavour of his life.
“I have done a few exciting things but this caps it all, there’s no question about that. I am very excited to be here,” he said during a brief meet and greet with reporters before the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League.
Ratcliffe, who grew up a United fan, said because of the regulatory process, he could not reveal any plans for the club. His proposed 25 per cent purchase, approved by United’s board on Christmas Eve, still has to be ratified, which he expects to take “three or four weeks”.
“It’s early February, I hope they don’t find anything dodgy on my CV,” the founder of the petrochemicals giant Ineos said with a laugh.
“I have met (manager) Erik (ten Hag) obviously, but it would be inappropriate to (to say anything) until it’s all formalised,” he added.
The Ratcliffe deal brought to an end a protracted process to sell either a stake or full control of the club that lasted over a year.
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Ratcliffe quickly emerged as the front runners. However, after multiple rounds of bids were made, no offer matching the Glazers’ valuation for a full sale was met.
The Glazer family still own a majority of United despite being deeply unpopular with supporters, while Ratcliffe’s Ineos team will take sporting control of the club.
“It’s taken a few turns, as you know, along the road, but these things quite often do. It all turned out well in the end,” he said.
The 71-year-old Briton, who plans to attend “quite a lot of games”, said he has dreamed of United ownership for a few years and mentioned club legends Paul Scholes and Eric Cantona when asked about his favourite players.
Ratcliffe, who also owns French team Nice and Swiss side Lausanne, explained he was “about 10” when he took in his first game at Old Trafford, and his most recent visit to the stadium before Jan 14 was two or three years ago.
He was spotted during the Spurs game bending the ear of former United legendary manager Alex Ferguson, 82, who was seated next to him.
He hopes to bring back the glory days the club enjoyed under Ferguson. The 20-time English champions have not won a Premier League title since the Scot’s retirement in 2013.
Asked for his thoughts of having Ratcliffe in attendance for the first time, ten Hag said: “He will have seen a team fighting for each other and trying to get a win.” REUTERS
