Manchester United are undergoing a significant transformation under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, aiming to reverse years of decline.
Ruben Amorim is leading a summer-led rebuild, with the club focused on reshaping recruitment, squad balance and infrastructure.
But Ratcliffe’s sweeping cost-saving measures—including the controversial closure of the staff canteen—have provoked backlash from some quarters.
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Now, a voice from United’s past has stepped forward with stark criticism of the current regime’s approach.
The man in question is Sir David Murray, the former steel magnate who once contributed to 35 trophies at Rangers and nearly became United co-owner back in 1989.
As reported by the Daily Mail, he described Ratcliffe’s actions as “shoot-your-head stuff”, raising concerns over how the club’s soul is being treated.
Murray added: “Without being disrespectful, whatever United are doing now is dysfunctional.
“The guy Ratcliffe has come in… and how anyone can pay Casemiro the money [he gets] and take food off the staff and get rid of the backroom staff.
“That’s shoot-your-head stuff. Why would anybody do that?”
Casemiro’s reported £370,000-per-week wage sharply contrasts with ratcheted-up austerity measures: staff canteens closed, free lunches axed and cutbacks in backroom teams.
All while Sir Jim Ratcliffe defended his decision, saying: “No-one ever gave me free lunches.”
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Murray warned that such moves risk undermining what he described as “the heart and soul” of Manchester United, just as they once shaped Rangers during his tenure.
His comments ring especially loud given his own regrets after Rangers’ collapse following his ill-fated sale to Craig Whyte in 2011.
Murray said he has apologised for the damage done to club employees during that era.
In 1989, Murray had even explored acquiring half of United and merging commercial operations with Rangers—complete with joint pitches, marketing and business systems—before the idea was blocked by cross-border ownership rules.
Murray’s critique highlights the tension between financial control and preserving club culture.
As United seek elite status again, balancing penny-pinching with preserving identity will be crucial.
His words serve as a timely reminder: success at Old Trafford has always been built on more than just numbers—it’s about people, pride and purpose.
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