Jim Ratcliffe, the co -owner of Manchester United, granted an interview with the BBC Sport and The Times in which he frankly addressed the complex financial and sports situation that the club is going through. From the economic crisis to the reconstruction of the team and the ambitious plan for a new stadium.
Ratcliffe did not walk around when talking about the economic reality of United. The club has accumulated losses of 464 million euros in recent years and was close to bankruptcy. “If we had not implemented the cuts and restructuring of recent months, Manchester United would have run out of money at the end of this year,” he said.
Manchester United would have broken at Christmas “
Austerity measures have been drastic: more than 450 layoffs and cuts of up to 175 million euros. Ratcliffe defended the need for these adjustments: “Manchester United would have broken at Christmas,” he explained.
The new management has uncovered exorbitant expenses that had no justification. One of the most striking cases was that of a sign language advisor with a salary of 206,000 euros a year, making it clear that its objective is to reduce spending in unnecessary areas to prioritize investment in sports performance.
Ratcliffe acknowledged that “they are in a period of change” that directly affects the squad and that it will take time to return to United among the best in England. The club has to make difficult decisions regarding signings and exits, adjusting to the rules of the Financiero Play of the Premier League.
The owner of INEOS also mentioned the problems with some high salary players who have not surrendered as expected. However, he suggested that summer will be key to restructuring the team and laying the foundations for a winning project.
About the sports and love situation
The equipment performance has been disappointing. Currently, the United 14th march in the Premier League, far from European positions, and was recently eliminated in the fifth round of the FA Cup by Fulham.
“We have not had much time to modify the squad, we have a new coach who arrived in the middle of the season and a long list of injuries,” he argued. Ratcliffe was optimistic for the future and reiterated his confidence in Rúben Amorim, who praised without reservations as “a good coach and will be in Manchester United for a long time.”
The ‘New’ Old Trafford
One of the most ambitious projects of Ratcliffe’s management is the construction of a new stadium with capacity for 100,000 spectators, which replaces Old Trafford. “Norman Foster, the best architect in the world and born in Manchester, has designed the most iconic stadium for the future for Manchester United,” he confirmed.
The magnate of the chemical sector assured that the new stadium will be the engine of Manchester’s regeneration, becoming a global attraction for club fans. In addition, he is confident that infrastructure investment will consolidate United as the most profitable club in the world in the coming years.
“If people want to see United by winning trophies again, we have to do all this. It is difficult, it is unpopular, it would be much better if we did not have to do it, but if we do not, we will end up in the same place where we have been for the last 12 years, ”concluded Ratcliffe, that despite the huge challenge he does not doubt: Manchester United will be at the top.
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