Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe holds one all-important stance on a major Ineos-backed project in the works at Old Trafford, according to reports.
The 72-year-old British billionaire has seen both the highs and lows during his brief time as a minority stakeholder of Premier League club Manchester United.
Ineos assumed control of football operations at Old Trafford after Sir Jim Ratcliffe secured his role as co-owner, with the announcement of his stake made in 2023.
Ratcliffe’s minority stake purchase was ratified in 2024 and the Ineos regime has made tough decisions so far, including the sacking of Erik ten Hag last season.
Ineos brought in Ruben Amorim to replace Erik ten Hag as United manager during the 2024-25 Premier League season, with the club ending the season in 15th place.
READ MORE: Why Ruben Amorim’s important Man Utd favourite made ‘early return’ to Red Devils from international duty
Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe attends the Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in 2025 in Bilbao, Spain.
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s position on Ineos’ key plan at Old Trafford, which sparked mixed feelings from Man Utd fans
During the turbulent 2024-25 Premier League campaign, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos were able to share an update on a huge project in the works at the Red Devils.
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Manchester United in March announced their plan to build a new stadium in the UK, which would be the long-term successor to the iconic Old Trafford venue.
Old Trafford’s successor caught the eye of United fans for its striking design, with the conceptual images showing the new stadium cloaked in a massive tent.
British international architecture firm Foster and Partners are at the helm of the concept designs, having worked on United’s revamped Carrington training complex.
According to The Daily Mail, Ineos chief Ratcliffe has his ‘heart set on the tent design’ for the 100,000-seater stadium, which will be built close to Old Trafford.
The newspaper added that the United co-owner is a ‘big fan of the bold designs’ that Foster and Partners were able to conjure up for the eye-watering £2bn project.
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When is Man Utd’s Foster and Partners-designed successor stadium to Old Trafford expected to open its doors?
The Daily Mail added that ‘it would be a big surprise’ if Foster and Partners did not receive the backing from Ineos and Ratcliffe to build the new stadium next to Old Trafford.
The newspaper claimed that the ‘final version’ of the 100,000-seat stadium would ‘unlikely’ differ ‘too much’ from the conceptual images that surfaced back in March.
Ratcliffe has said that United are looking to open the stadium by 2030, with Old Trafford likely to be knocked down once the new venue’s construction is completed.
“We’ve already spent quite a lot of time talking to fans and we know where the players are,” he told MUTV in March, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“I mean, they obviously want to play in the greatest stadium in the world, you know.
“So, I think the consultation will continue, but I’d also like to get on with it because we can spend 10 years building a new stadium, or we can spend five years building a new stadium.
“And I’d rather spend five years [than] 10 years. I might not be here in 10 years!”
United will return to action for the first time since the end of the September international break on Sunday afternoon, with Manchester City hosting the Red Devils at the Etihad.