Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has expressed optimism about the “exciting” new era at Old Trafford under the guidance of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The British billionaire has bought a 25% stake in the club for £1.3bn, a deal which also sees him and his team from INEOS assume control of sporting operations. His influence has already been seen in the appointment of former City Football Group executive Omar Berrarda as CEO, while a deal is also getting closer to bring in Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United as sporting director.
“As a player sitting here, I want this club to be successful. I’m sure he’s going to play a big part in getting this club back to where it should be. It’s been a tough few years because the expectation of this club is to challenge for the biggest trophies and to challenge at the top of the Premier League and we haven’t done that often enough in the last ten years. I’m sure he’s got a vision of what he wants for this club and I’m sure he’ll move it in the right direction.”
Ratcliffe and chief aide Sir Brailsford have already made their presence felt around the club since a deal with the Glazer family was formally announced on Christmas Eve, making visits to the Carrington training centre and meeting with coaches and players across the men’s and women’s teams.
Reflecting on that introduction to the men’s squad, Maguire reflected: “I think the lads came out of the meeting really impressed with how he spoke. [He] gave us great motivation, everyone in the room, to fight for the club and fight for this badge and to stay on this journey.
“It’s exciting times for the club because you can see he’s brought that fresh energy. We feel now he will take the club in the right direction.”
Ratcliffe’s buy-in has received formal approval from the Premier League and Barclays WSL, making official ratification with the FA now just a formality.
