Sir Alex Ferguson to appoint new Man Utd sporting director after Jim Ratcliffe call
Sir Jim Ratcliffe intends to seek advice from Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson as he embarks on the quest for a new sporting director.
The 71-year-old Ineos chief is set to take charge of sporting operations at Old Trafford following the approval of his £1.3 billion deal for a 25 percent minority stake in the club, which is anticipated to happen in the next few days.
Substantial changes behind the scenes are anticipated under his leadership.
CEO Richard Arnold has confirmed his departure from his role in December, and there’s a strong possibility that other executives will also exit.
Ratcliffe is eyeing a revamp of United’s recruitment strategy and intends to appoint a new sporting director, signaling the beginning of a new era for the club.
While various candidates have been suggested for the role, a recent report from The Telegraph indicates that Ratcliffe will consult with Ferguson before making any changes.
This could potentially benefit Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman, a longstanding associate of the iconic Manchester United figure.
Earlier this week, The Star disclosed that Freedman is among the individuals who might assume a significant role under Ratcliffe’s new leadership.
The report also mentions other sporting directors admired by Ratcliffe, such as Atalanta’s Lee Congerton and Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta. Additionally, former AC Milan duo Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara are reportedly on his radar.
In recent weeks, there has been significant speculation linking former Monaco transfer expert Paul Mitchell to the role. Mitchell brings Premier League experience from his previous stints with Southampton and Tottenham.
Jean-Claude Blanc, the former chief of Paris Saint-Germain who took charge of Ineos’ sporting operations in December, is anticipated to assume the position of CEO, succeeding Arnold. In the interim, board member Patrick Stewart is set to take on the responsibilities of the role.
Ratcliffe is determined to bring about a significant improvement in Manchester United’s football operations, and his decision to seek advice from Ferguson is likely to resonate well with fans.
The majority of supporters express disappointment with recent developments and favor a complete break from the current regime.
Despite receiving full takeover offers from both Ratcliffe and competitor Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani in the past year, the Glazer family has chosen to retain control by selling a minority stake to Ineos instead of opting for a complete sale of the club.
Sir Alex Ferguson to appoint new Man Utd sporting director after Jim Ratcliffe call
