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In a major development at Manchester United, it has come to light that INEOS, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will have a broader role than initially anticipated when they acquired a 25% stake in the club. This new scope of operations was disclosed during a staff meeting held on Wednesday, which was overseen by Manchester United’s interim chief executive, Patrick Stewart.
The Athletic has uncovered that in this meeting, employees were informed of the revised understanding between INEOS and the Glazer family. This adjustment in the agreement implies that INEOS will now have a say in business decisions alongside the Glazers, as these are intrinsically linked to the football side of operations.
The report claims that this shift suggests a more integrated approach to decision-making at the club, as opposed to the earlier plan of keeping business and football operations distinctly separate. The primary responsibility of INEOS will remain the management of football operations. However, the Glazer family is reportedly open to allowing Ratcliffe’s firm a wider berth in influencing changes across the club, including the commercial sector, to enhance football success.
As per The Athletic, INEOS believes that the club’s commercial success is tightly bound to its on-field achievements. This belief is further reinforced by their decision to bring in Omar Berrada from Manchester City. Berrada, known for his experience in football operations and commercial acumen, is expected to take over from Stewart as the CEO in the summer.
The report further states that during the call, Stewart also reiterated the club’s commitment to fostering a “football first culture,” centering all decisions around the betterment of the sport within the club.
However, this anticipated change has stirred some unease among the staff, following reports that Ratcliffe is keen on reviewing the club’s staffing, which is often perceived as excessive. Sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared with The Athletic that there is a palpable fear of potential job cuts following this review.
Omar Berrada is slated to commence his role in the summer, succeeding Patrick Stewart, who has been the interim CEO following Richard Arnold’s departure from the position late last year.
