Is the INEOS curse real? – a biting question at a visibly tension-ridden moment of sporting history.
British billionaire, Jim Ratcliffe is set to take a quarter of Premier league side, Manchester United, but there are are worries about an extraordinary leash on his frontlines that can be detrimental to the future of the club.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Game-Changing Move: A New Era for Manchester United?
In a seismic development for Manchester United, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the chief of INEOS, is poised to acquire a substantial 25 percent of the Glazer family’s shares in the club for a staggering £1.3 billion.
While the financial implications are colossal, former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan, now a talkSPORT pundit, has sounded a cautionary note regarding Ratcliffe’s track record in sports investments.
Jordan, known for his candid opinions, expressed concerns on talkSPORT about what he terms the “INEOS curse.”
He referenced instances like the decline of the All Blacks, the Sky Cycling Team, Ben Ainslie’s struggles in the Americas Cup, and INEOS’ investment in French side OGC Nice, which, despite being second in Ligue 1, has faced challenges under INEOS’ ownership since 2019.
Jordan says:
“With all due respect to his remarkable successes in business, there is the thing called the INEOS curse, about businesses in sport that he’s been involved in…
…Whether it’s the Sky Cycling Team, whether it’s the decline in the All Blacks, whether it was Ben Ainslie and one of the worst performances in the Americas Cup, whether it’s his investment in Nice that has produced no particular outcome…”
Reports suggest that Ratcliffe, upon finalizing the £1.3 billion deal, plans a substantial overhaul at Manchester United.
However, speculation is rife about potential appointments, with Crystal Palace’s sporting director Dougie Freedman linked to a significant role at Old Trafford. The club is also rumored to provide substantial backing for manager Erik ten Hag in the transfer market.
Ratcliffe’s involvement is expected to extend beyond financial investment, as he is slated to join a new football committee at Old Trafford alongside Joel Glazer and renowned cycling chief Sir Dave Brailsford.
The impending changes signal a new era for Manchester United, ushering in a blend of financial might and strategic direction under the stewardship of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
As the football world eagerly watches, the question lingers: Can Ratcliffe break free from the “INEOS curse” and steer Manchester United towards a glorious future?
Culled in by Victor Aduwak ( Writer )
