Sir Jim Ratcliffe has shared that acquiring a stake in Manchester United ranks as the most thrilling endeavor in his life. Ratcliffe, along with his company INEOS, has reached an agreement to purchase a 25% stake in United. The billionaire made his inaugural visit to Old Trafford for Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur since the announcement of this arrangement.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the agreement, Ratcliffe addressed journalists gathered in the press conference room ahead of kick-off. “It’s the first match for me since we sort of got there, if you like,” Ratcliffe mentioned during his introduction. “I am very excited to be here, but I can’t answer any questions, really, because that would be inappropriate, honestly. It’s a big match…we normally do well against Spurs!”
While initially reluctant to answer questions, Ratcliffe eventually responded to inquiries, particularly about whether joining Manchester United was more exciting than anything else he had undertaken. “Correct. Yes,” he affirmed. “I have done a few exciting things, but this caps it all. There’s no question about that.”
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Regarding the approval process by the Premier League for Ratcliffe and INEOS’ involvement at United, he provided an update on when a decision might be expected. “I think it’s three or four weeks, early Feb,” he stated. “I hope they don’t find anything dodgy on my CV!”
For the 2-2 draw, Ratcliffe sat alongside Sir Alex Ferguson. He briefly mentioned his prior discussions with the team’s manager, Erik ten Hag, emphasizing the need for formality before revealing details.
As the head of INEOS, a company involved in various sports ventures, Ratcliffe acknowledged that he wouldn’t be able to attend every Manchester United home game. “I can’t come all the time because I have got a few other things to manage. I will come quite a lot,” he concluded.