Manchester United’s decision to continue with Ten hag and not hire Thomas Tuchel has his replacement is because Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a cheapstake, according to Richard keys.
After weighing their choices, Ratcliffe and his INEOS group decided to fly to Ibiza to let Ten Hag know that he would be staying on as United’s manager for the 2024–2025 season. Only after months of conjecture, during which United’s new owners publicly courted other managers, did the Dutchman obtain confirmation.
Tuchel was among those they spoke with; he left Bayern Munich at the end of the season and is free this summer. The former German coach met with Ratcliffe in Monaco and presented his ideas for taking over from Ten Hag, but the billionaire owner of INEOS decided against making the move.
Ever since the sale was finalised in February, Ratcliffe and the other influential United decision-makers, particularly his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford, have been considering their options. Additionally, beIN SPORTS host Keys has harshly questioned how they concluded this judgement.
Richard Keys questions United’s decision not to appoint Tuchel
He wrote in his blog: “What on earth is Sunny Jim doing at United? After hawking Ten Hag’s job around Europe since the end of the season it turns out the incumbent keeps stays in post – although he was only the fourth choice. What rank of amateurism.”
“The players must be on the floor. To a man they expected Ten Hag to get the sack. What does Ratcliffe think will change? If he’d offered a proper salary I’m told Tuchel would’ve said ‘yes’. But Ratcliffe is trying to do everything on the cheap. £35m for [Jarrad] Branthwaite? He’s having a laugh and it will bite him. He’ll also have to sack Ten Hag before Christmas.”
Everton have received a proposal from United to sign Branthwaite for £35 million plus possible add-ons of £8 million. However, Everton values the young defender at about £70 million, so unless United pull out, the deal drama may last all summer.
Ratcliffe has been rather open about his desire to save costs ever since he took over from the Glazer family in running the club. He has drastically changed the top management team that handles transfer transactions and has the intention of cutting jobs from the previous employees.
“They haven’t got the manager selection right, haven’t bought well,” Ratcliffe told The Times in 2019. “They have been the dumb money, which you see with players like Fred. United have spent an immense amount since Ferguson left and been poor, to put it mildly. Shockingly poor, to be honest.”
“We (INEOS) have a different approach here to be moderately intelligent about it – try to do it more grassroots, trying to locate young talent. Some clubs seem to have the ability to do that, Southampton, Lille. United have done it really poorly. They have lost the plot.”
