- Sir Jim Ratcliffe has criticised several Manchester United players, labeling them as "not good enough" and "probably overpaid"
- Ratcliffe revealed United are still paying instalments on past signings, including Sancho’s wages despite his loan move to Chelsea
- The British billionaire defended cost-cutting measures, warning that the club could "run out of money by Christmas" without them
Premier League giant Manchester United’s turbulent era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken another turn, as the club’s co-owner launched a scathing critique of several high-profile players, admitting that some are “not good enough” and “probably overpaid.”
Ratcliffe, who took charge of football operations in February last year, has endured a rough start to his reign at Old Trafford.
In a recent interview, he pointed fingers at Rasmus Højlund, André Onana, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and Antony as prime examples of United’s recruitment struggles.
He expressed frustration at the club’s ongoing financial commitments to past signings, revealing that United were still paying installments on players who had either underperformed or been sent out on loan.
Sancho, currently at Chelsea, and Antony, on loan at Real Betis, were singled out as costly mistakes,
“If you look at the players we are buying this summer that we didn’t buy, we’re still paying for Antony, Casemiro, Onana, Højlund, and Sancho, for Sancho, who is now playing for Chelsea, we are still covering half of his wages and paying £17 million to buy him in the summer,” Ratcliffe said.
When asked if these players were simply not up to Manchester United’s standards, Ratcliffe did not mince words,
“Some are not good enough, and some are probably overpaid. But for us to shape the squad we are fully responsible for, it will take time.”
Jim Ratcliffe admits wrong decisions
Aside from layer recruitment, Ratcliffe admitted to making errors in his leadership decisions, particularly regarding Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth.
After finishing eighth in the Premier League and winning the FA Cup last season, United initially retained Ten Hag, only to sack him in October following a disastrous run of form. His replacement, Ruben Amorim, has also struggled, with United sitting in 14th place.
“I agree that the Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth decisions were errors, there were mitigating circumstances, but ultimately, they were mistakes. I accept that and apologise,” Ratcliffe conceded.
Despite the ongoing struggles, Ratcliffe threw his support behind Amorim, believing the Portuguese coach has the potential to lead the club back to glory,
“Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I think he’s doing a really good job with the squad he has, I believe he will be here for a long time,” he said.
Ratcliffe on fan protests and cost-cutting measures
Ratcliffe’s comments came just after increasing fan unrest, with thousands protesting against the club’s ownership before United’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
Supporters voiced their anger over issues ranging from ticket price hikes to mass layoffs, with Ratcliffe confirming that further redundancies were inevitable,
“The cost-cutting measures are unpleasant but necessary, if we don’t make these changes, the club would run out of money by Christmas,” he explained.
However, he reassured fans that funds would be available for squad improvements in the summer, with his ultimate goal being to return United to Premier League glory by 2028, in time for the club’s 150th anniversary.
Amorim to offload two Man Utd stars in January transfer window
Previously, TheRadar reported that Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim appears ready to make bold decisions regarding his squad, as reports from Manchester suggest the Portuguese tactician is prepared to offload two high-profile players during the January transfer window.
The former Sporting CP manager, who replaced Erik ten Hag in November, has endured a turbulent start at Old Trafford and is eager to reshape his team for the remainder of the season.
