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Sir Jim Ratcliffe expects a deal to buy a 25% stake in Manchester United to be formalized by mid-February.
The British billionaire said this while watching Manchester United’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Ratcliffe is currently awaiting league approval after his petrochemical company INEOS completed a deal to take a minority stake in the club last month.
The process is expected to take around eight weeks, but Ratcliffe has already begun work, visiting the club’s stadium and training base in Carrington in early January.
“We’re hoping by early to mid-February,” Ratcliffe said, joking, “I hope they don’t find anything fishy on our resume!”
Mr Ratcliffe’s minority stake will give the billionaire sporting control of the club, but he could not comment on whether it would affect United’s January transfer activity.
Sunday will be his first tour of the club in his new role.
“I have some other commitments so I can’t come all the time, but I do come quite often,” he continued.
On how Ratcliffe, who has been a United fan since he was a boy, had always dreamed of owning a stake in the club, he added: As you know, we took a few turns along the way, but everything worked out in the end. ”
INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, who will be a member of the new club’s board if approved, made the announcement four days after United’s 3-2 home win against Aston Villa on Boxing Day. I watched the away game where we lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest.
He was also there to watch the FA Cup third round match against Wigan Athletic earlier this week, along with fellow newly appointed director Jean-Claude Blanc.
Ratcliffe and Brailsford have already held extensive talks with Erik ten Hag, with the United manager describing them as “very positive”. However, Ratcliffe said he had not yet spoken to the players as it would be “inappropriate” until the minority stake was formalized.
Ten Hag said: “We sat together for many hours and were on the same page on many issues. It was a very constructive meeting and we look forward to working with each other.
“They have good ideas. We have to see what we can integrate. We can work together, but you won’t know after a day.”
United go into Sunday’s match in ninth place in the Premier League table, nine points behind the top four.
even deeper
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s path to becoming manager of Manchester United
(Ash Donnellon, via Getty Images)
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