Ratcliffe fires Man Utd warning with first ruthless act as next steps clear

22 January 2024 , 13:31

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United overhaul is already under way (Image: PA)

Famously, Sir Alex Ferguson declared his primary aim when he took over as Manchester United boss was to: “Knock Liverpool off their f****** perch”.

By poaching Omar Berrada from local rivals and champions Manchester City, to become their new CEO, the new-look United have shown the same ruthless streak as their decorated former boss.

Although Sir Jim Ratcliffe cannot formally start work at United until his £1.3billion, 25 percent stake in the club is ratified by the Premier League early next month, the capture of Berrada is the first salvo from the INEOS boss and his team in their stated aim to take the fallen giants back to the very top.

Their first action towards that aim is to weaken City by luring Berrada across Manchester's football divide, bringing with him a wealth of experience and expertise that will only strengthen the Red Devils and help them bridge the gap to the best side in England and Europe.

After a decade of mostly underwhelming signings for over-inflated prices, the capture of Berrada represents a shrewd piece of business from United and serves as a warning to their rivals that the new regime, led by Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford, do not care who they upset in their quest to restore the 20-times champions to the pinnacle of football.

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United could have done with that single-minded, ruthless approach on many occasions in the 10-and-a-half years since Ferguson stepped down, not least in the summer, when they were too inhibited to make a concerted bid to land Harry Kane and reluctant to get drawn into a transfer saga with Tottenham chief executive Daniel Levy.

With Ratcliffe at the helm, in charge of football operations alongside Brailsford and Berrada, such a lack of ambition will be consigned to the past, with the new team in charge facing a multitude of challenges to meet if they are to haul United out of their current state of inertia and back to rivalling the likes of City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Aston Villa, all of whom have overtaken them.

Omar Berrada (R) has turned his back on Man City to join their rivals (PA)

David McDonnell