We Need To Talk About Sir Jim Ratcliffe

When Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought 27.7% of Manchester United in February, 2024, taking control of the club's football operations, it was hailed as a turning point for the Premier League giants by many in the media.

That's despite that Ratcliffe, and his company INEOS, have a very mixed record in football ownership - at OGC Nice and FC Lausanne-Sport - and beyond.

In this video, HITC Sevens takes a closer look at Manchester United's minority owner, his plans both at and for Old Trafford, and why he might not be the guaranteed success some seem to assume.

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[MvanPelt]

As a proud Brexiter, Sir Jim obviously wants nothing to do with Europe, so finishing outside the Top 7 is obviously the idea, Alfie.

[jackgrove]

The monologue leading up ‘get fucked’ might be some of the best writing you’ve ever done, in the most complimentary way

[mazamonx]

Perfect timing. Was falling asleep at work.

[maximusg]

Fucking loved this, Alfie! Fuck billionaires who try to socialise losses and capitalise profits

[corgiGY]

I know someone that used to work for Ineos and in a meeting Ratcliffe asked ‘How do we drill a well as cheaply as they drill wells in Texas?’ My friend replied ‘drill a well in Texas’ and was fired on the spot.

[SpookySloth]

Things like this make me so angry. Just hearing about billionaires wanting handouts. Socialising losses and privatising profits, all while normal people struggle and feel the brunt of every financially decline while the rich get to continue being rich it’s disgusting

[millienoble]

Antony, Bayindir, Casemiro, Diallo, Eriksen, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund, ... now I see why ETH wanted Ugarte, Yoro, and Zirkzee. He's trying for a full A-Z squad. Maybe he'll be awarded a trophy if he achieves that?

[drntel]

my brother works at man United and they've made 250 redundancies and made all staff who were working from home come into the office 5 days a week, this forced a lot of employees out as people from all over the country had been given jobs on the basis that they would be working from home, all of this while paying antony £200, 000 per week 😂

[sonr]

Virtually all of these "Titans of Industry" either got lucky or made one good call, which led them to think they're some kind of maverick genius in every department when in reality their abilities are very average.

[fwayo]

I wish you talked more about the employees they cut, seriously just cruel, many like the club historian, kitman, and others who had been with the club for decades, as well as the fact that cutting 250 employees doesn’t help the finances as much as getting rid of one or two ridiculously overpaid terrible players, and it also harms a lot more people, and the club, significantly more

[Jonnyd]

As a taxpayer this is an insult to every other club in England . I won’t want to pay tax on a rival stadium yet alone the fact it doesn’t help anyone else in the long run . Plus there is clubs going out of business not getting any help from the government that have history and struggle at the bottom. It’s ridiculous really is they should reject any notion as 2 billion the uk tax payers don’t need he’s got enough money to fund it himself

[ethanpower]

Ryan Giggs in 2011: "We would never collapse like Liverpool"

[capio]

Appreciate you confirming the size of the font. These little details make all the difference.

[senorpython]

Sorry Alfie, We actually need to talk about my Thai Mother in Law.

[Simon-A.-Tan]

Just call Ratcliffe what he is:

a LEACH.

[lucaslonchampt]

More like Sir Jim Ratclown am I right?
Anyway, there's a joke about OGC Nice in France, and it's that the club has been in transition and will do better the next season since roughly 2017. I'd say his work with the club has been... y'know, OK, but surely not awe inspiring. One would argue Nice has so much potential, both in terms of money and location, that they ought to do better

[mbos]

As a Newcastle supporter, He sounds like Mike Ashley.

[flouf-pj]

Been in crisis since the Glazers, Sir Alex was just that special now we just have an owner who thinks he’s a sporting director.

[LouisVanGaalsArmy-tycq]

2:17 very detailed video, the easiest bit of research though was finding out what European competition we're in.

[nbr]

The utter gaul of Radcliff to say tax payers should pay for a new ManU Stadium. Holy Sh!t man.