Manchester United’s new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has drawn the battle lines with Newcastle United over the pursuit of Dan Ashworth to be the first sporting director of the Ineos era at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe’s minority investment in Manchester United was finally confirmed on Tuesday – more than a year after the Glazer family began their so-called strategic review – and the British billionaire set out plans to “knock Liverpool and Manchester City off their perch” within three years in his first official briefing.
It was a bullish opening gambit from Ratcliffe, who restated his desire to try and squeeze funds out of the Government to help with his vision of creating a “Wembley for the north” at a redeveloped Old Trafford.
He also said immediate improvements to recruitment would be visible at the club, with Ashworth understood to be central to those plans. But they have run into resistance from his current club Newcastle, who placed Ashworth on gardening leave on Monday after he stated his preference to join the new regime at Manchester United.
There has been a formal approach from the Red Devils but i understands there is no agreement between the two clubs yet. The Magpies would demand around £20m to release him from the 18-month notice period he is contractually required to serve, which Ratcliffe believes is excessive.
“It’s a bit silly, personally. I won’t get dragged into that,” he said of the situation.
“What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years. We had a very grown-up conversation with City about Omar [Berrada].
“When things got done we sorted it out very amicably. They could see why he wanted to take that challenge.
“You look at Pep [Guardiola] when he’s done with one of his footballers; he doesn’t want them to sit in the garden for one and a half years. He doesn’t do that. That’s not the way the UK works or the law works.”
Describing Ashworth as a “10/10” sporting director, Ratcliffe made it clear that he believed the role at Old Trafford to be the biggest and most exciting in the sport.
But his comments are unlikely to go down well at St James’ Park, where there is already frustration at the way Manchester United have acted around Ashworth. A belief that he has been unsettled before an official approach has increased resolve on Tyneside and both sides appear to be digging in.
“We have had words with Newcastle, who would be disappointed [to lose him],” Ratcliffe said.
“I understand why they would be disappointed but then you can’t criticise Dan because it’s a transient industry. You can understand why Dan would be interested because it’s the ultimate challenge
“Ultimately, you can’t really criticise Dan for looking at maybe the most coveted job in football as a sporting director – particularly with the challenge at Manchester United.”
Ratcliffe also said that the situation around rival bidder Sheikh Jassim bin Hamal Al Thani – who pulled out of the bidding in October last year – was “very odd”.
The Qatari businessman had a high-powered PR team but never appeared to be seriously in the running, with the Glazers working with Ratcliffe on investment. Ratcliffe even suggested that he might not exist.
“Still nobody’s ever seen him, actually,” he said.
“The Glazers never met him. I’m not sure he exists!”
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2CwTWPb
Post a Comment