Manchester United faces a pivotal moment as strategic sales discussions intertwine with management errors and crucial decisions impacting future squad performance.
fotnet24.net reports that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has shed new light on homegrown talents Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. Both players entered the market in January, with potential offers around £70m for Mainoo and roughly £60m for Garnacho. Ratcliffe confirmed that the club did not force their exit but remained open to the right deal.
United values its homegrown talent highly, as player sales boost the club’s finances by logging proceeds as ‘pure profit’. This financial benefit directly enhances their spending power. With a full squad rebuild under new boss Ruben Amorim, the summer window may reopen opportunities if sizeable bids come in.
Ratcliffe maintained that the club will not sell either player solely for financial reasons. He explained that reducing squad bloating remains a priority while focusing on performance improvements. However, he left the door open should the players underperform or request a move.
Reports suggest that Mainoo now favors a move abroad amid stalled contract extension talks. Currently earning £20,000 per week, the midfielder faces limited progress on a wage increase. There is even speculation that Chelsea could intervene to keep him in England if he is allowed to leave.
The executive also acknowledged serious errors regarding managerial decisions. He admitted that dismissing coach Erik ten Hag was premature. United later offered ten Hag a new deal, only to remove him and his staff for a final cost of £10.4m within just three months.
Ratcliffe elaborated that it proved difficult to separate the coach’s performance from the club’s overall structure. He admitted that delaying action on ten Hag was a mistake he now regrets. This decision underlines the complex challenges inherent in running a top club.
In addition, Ratcliffe conceded that hiring Dan Ashworth as sporting director turned out to be an error. Ashworth lasted only five months at Old Trafford, and his exit cost the club £4.1m. The mismatch in chemistry between him and United did not meet expectations.
Lastly, the 72-year-old executive openly criticized five current stars, highlighting inherited issues that burden the squad. He pointed to signings like Antony, Casemiro, Onana, Hojlund, and Sancho as examples of past decisions that still affect the team. This candid critique signals that United faces significant challenges ahead as they attempt to rebuild and regain competitive form.
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