In a candid interview, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of Manchester United’s owners, expressed his dissatisfaction with several players’ performances, even naming them.
Once a dominant force under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United has now been in decline for several years. Ratcliffe, who is the chairman of the petrochemical company INEOS, didn’t hold back when addressing the club’s struggles. He pointed out that some players at United were “not good enough” and that others were being “paid extra money.” In a detailed interview with BBC Sport, he named players such as midfielder Casemiro, Rasmus Højlund, goalkeeper André Onana, winger Antony, and Jadon Sancho, who is currently on loan at Chelsea after a brief stint at Borussia Dortmund.
Ratcliffe, a Manchester United fan, made a significant move last year by purchasing a 28.94% stake in the club for £1.3 billion, gaining full control over the football operations. Despite the change in ownership, the team’s failure to perform has continued. Last November, they sacked former coach Erik ten Hag due to poor results and appointed Ruben Amorim, but the club’s troubles remain. Currently, they are 14th in the Premier League, have already been eliminated from the League Cup and FA Cup, and although still in the running for the Europa League, their performance suggests that hopes are slim.
Ratcliffe shared his thoughts on the ongoing failures of the team, questioning the decisions made by those responsible for player acquisitions in the past. Ahead of the Premier League match against Arsenal, which ended in a 1-1 draw, United fans protested against the club’s ownership. Ratcliffe responded by discussing the club’s financial difficulties, stating that some unpopular decisions must be made to prevent financial troubles by the end of the year.
He also explained that the club’s financial strain was a result of previous management’s failure to take “far-reaching decisions.” He pointed to Jadon Sancho’s deal, noting that United still has to pay €17 million this season for a player who was bought for €73 million in 2021. Sancho had struggled under former coach Ten Hag, leading to his loan moves.
Ratcliffe also criticized the performances of Casemiro, Antony, Onana, and Højlund, emphasizing that high-priced signings hadn’t met expectations, which has increased the club’s financial burden. “We bought Antony, we bought Casemiro, we bought Onana, we bought Højlund, we bought Sancho—these are past decisions, whether we like them or not, and now we have to fix them,” Ratcliffe said.
He further explained that for Sancho, United would continue to pay half of his salary while he is on loan at Chelsea. Antony, who was signed for £67 million in 2022 from Ajax, has failed to perform, and now plays on loan at Real Betis. Casemiro, another high-profile signing from Real Madrid for £70 million in 2022, has also failed to meet expectations and is no longer part of coach Amorim’s preferred starting XI. Goalkeeper André Onana, who was signed for £47 million from Inter Milan in 2023, has also been disappointing.
Although these players have faced criticism, Ratcliffe acknowledged that the problems run deep, and quick fixes are not possible. “It will take time for us to turn things around and build a new future,” he said.
When asked directly if he thought these players were of poor quality, Ratcliffe replied, “Some are not good enough, and some might have been paid extra money. Now we have to rebuild the squad, and we are fully responsible for that, though it will take time.”
However, Ratcliffe expressed his satisfaction with the performance of team captain Bruno Fernandes, praising him as an outstanding player: “We have some great players in the team, and the captain is a fantastic footballer. We definitely need Bruno; he is an extraordinary player.”
