Manchester United's co-owner Jim Ratcliffe (C) takes his seat for the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on March 9, 2025.Manchester United's co-owner Jim Ratcliffe (C) takes his seat for the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on March 9, 2025.
Manchester United's co-owner Jim Ratcliffe (C) takes his seat for the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on March 9, 2025. | AFP via Getty Images
Manchester United minority owner has addressed a number of issues at the club
Manchester United’s minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been facing a number of questions on the current issues facing the Red Devils as he sat down for interviews to reflect on his first 12 months at Old Trafford.
There has been a number of changes at the club within that time with Erik ten Hag given a vote of confidence in the summer before being sacked and replaced by Ruben Amorim in the autumn. Sporting director Dan Ashworth left United after just five months despite the club’s board pursuing the ex-Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion man for several months prior to his appointment.
United remain in the hunt for the Europa League this season after a Premier League campaign to forget and on Tuesday announced their plans for a mega 100,000-seater stadium to be built by 2030. In his interviews, Ratcliffe was questioned on the exit of Marcus Rashford in January.
Ratcliffe backs Amorim in Rashford decision
The United minority owner was asked if he agreed with manager Amorim’s decision to move Rashford on in January. Ratcliffe simply replied “yep” in an interview with BBC Sport but when asked why he agreed, he said: "He [Amorim] wants a dressing room full of people who are totally committed to winning football matches. He won't tolerate people who do not 100 per cent have that attitude.”
Rashford has rediscovered some form since joining Villa, and has not missed a game under Unai Emery. He has started three games and come off the bench in five while providing three assists.
Asked if he was frustrated to see the United striker do well at Villa, Ratcliffe said: "No, I'm pleased. He's moved out of Manchester, maybe that's a good thing for him. I am very pleased to see he's doing well, it's good to see. He has got tremendous talent but for whatever reason it hasn't been working in Manchester for the last couple of seasons."
What next for Marcus Rashford?
Late last month it was reported Rashford has told his friends and those close to him that he is keen to make his loan move to Aston Villa a permanent one. The 27-year-old is believed to have already established a strong working relationship with Unai Emery and believes the Spaniard is the perfect coach to help him resurrect his career at international level.
That revelation came around the same time former England manager Sam Allardyce urged Rashford to leave his boyhood club for Villa on a permanent basis in the summer.
When discussing Rashford’s big decision on the No Tippy Tappy podcast, he explained that the 27-year-old would never be right for Amorim’s style of football, he said: “He [Rashford] doesn’t fit into that type of system. He’s got to prove himself for the first time in a long time.
“As a kid, he had to prove himself by being good enough to break into United’s first team, now he has to prove himself to the Aston Villa players. He’s going out there with a new manager and new teammates and that’s got to inspire him, rather than languishing at Man United.”
Related topics:Jim RatcliffeRuben AmorimMarcus Rashford
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