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Written by Lori Ewing
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, who watched his first Manchester United match on Sunday since signing a deal to take a minority stake in the club, said his investment was the best of his life. He said it was an exciting initiative.
“We’ve done some exciting things but this is the end of it all, there’s no question about that,” Ratcliffe said ahead of Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur. He spoke during a brief meeting with reporters.
“I’m so excited to be here.”
Ratcliffe, who has been a United fan since childhood, said he could not reveal the club’s plans due to regulatory procedures. His 25% buyout was approved by United’s board on Christmas Eve, but it still needs approval, which he expects to take “three to four weeks.”
“I think it will be early February. I hope they don’t find anything suspicious on my resume,” the INEOS chairman said with a laugh.
“I’ve obviously met Eric (Ten Hags), but it would be inappropriate (to say anything) until everything is official,” he added.
Ratcliffe, who will play “quite a lot of games”, said he had dreamed of becoming United’s owner for several years.
“We had a few twists and turns along the way, but everything worked out in the end,” he said.
The 71-year-old explained that he attended his first game at Old Trafford when he was “about 10 years old” and that up until Sunday he had last visited the stadium two or three years ago.
He was seen bending the ear of former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who was sitting next to him, during Sunday’s match.
Asked what it was like to have Ratcliffe attend for the first time, Ten Hag said, “He would see the team fighting for each other and trying to win.”
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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