Man United
Mick Brown
Wed 19 March 2025 5:30, UK
Man United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has broken the club’s “golden rule” after his recent press comments, according to their former chief scout.
Mick Brown, who spent over a decade at Old Trafford during the club’s most successful period and remains very well-connected there, exclusively told Football Insider that he has “defied every basic rule” that has stood the test of time at United.
He went on to label Ratcliffe’s comments “bizarre” and questioned how he can expect the players to perform to their best after being publicly criticised.
This comes after the part-owner name-dropped Jadon Sancho, Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro and Andre Onana during an interview with the BBC.
“We’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho,” he shared, “…Some are not good enough, and some are overpaid.”
Brown has previously been critical of the United owners as he told Football Insider that INEOS have ruined Man United with their “total mismanagement” of the club.
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Ratcliffe’s latest claims can now be added to a long list of controversies and decision-making mishaps since their partial takeover of the club.
Man United
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been heavily criticised at Man United. (Credit: Getty Images)
Jim Ratcliffe slammed after new Man United controversy
Brown previously told Football Insider that Ruben Amorim has broken the golden rule following his public criticism of Marcus Rashford before his move to Aston Villa.
Now, the former scout who has a wealth of experience working closely with owners across various clubs during his time working within the game, insisted that Ratcliffe’s latest comments should never have been made public.
“They keep doing things that prove they don’t know football,” he told Football Insider.
“There are golden rules at United, and not criticising your own players in the press is one of them.
“That seems to have been completely thrown out of the window.
“You’ve got players who you’re asking to put everything on the line for you to get results, but you’re publicly slaughtering them in the press.
“You might think it, you might say it behind closed doors, but it should never be done in public.
“I do not get it, it’s bizarre, it defies every basic rule which has stood the test of time.
“It makes no sense to me, how he can come out and name specific players when he’s talking about them being overpaid when they’re the ones paying them.
“Some of the players are still at the club – how do you want them to react to that?
“I know in some cases they didn’t make the decision, but it’s hard to have any sympathy for them if that’s what they’re after.”
Man United
Ruben Amorim has had to deal with off-field turmoil at Man United. (Credit: Imago)
Ruben Amorim leads Viktor Gyokeres transfer plans
Despite the ongoing turmoil behind the scenes at Man United, Amorim is putting plans in place to strengthen his squad in the summer transfer window.
A new striker has emerged as a primary target for the Red Devils amid concerns about the lack of goals from their strikers so far this season.
Brown told Football Insider that Man United still want to sign Viktor Gyokeres, and Amorim is leading their push to sign the Sporting CP star.
The 26-year-old, meanwhile, is also said to be keen on a reunion with his former boss, under whom he thrived following a move from Coventry City in 2023.
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