if you’ve got even the briefest bit of experience of life in the marketing world, you’ll know that nothing is done by accident. So the choice of colour scheme accompanying Ineos’ confirmation of their co-ownership of Manchester United was certainly no coincidence.
A maroon-ish red conjoined with a sliver of white, posted on their official X page? Was that the Qatar flag flanking a triumphant photo of Sir Jim Ratcliffe beaming outside his new Old Trafford kingdom?
When you consider that Ineos fought off competition from Sheikh Jassim and co to take control of Manchester United – the former going about their business quietly and efficiently while the latter relied on PR and social media screeching while making promises they seemed incapable of keeping – you cannot really blame Ratcliffe’s camp for rubbing their rivals’ nose in it.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe completes Manchester United deal
“To become co-owner of Manchester United is a great honour and comes with great responsibility,” the Failsworth-born Ratcliffe tells the Red Devils website after his co-ownership was ratified by both the Premier League and the Football Association.
“This marks the completion of the transaction, but just the beginning of our journey to take Manchester United back to the top of English, European and world football, with world-class facilities for our fans.
“Work to achieve those objectives will accelerate from today.”
Ineos appear to make Qatar dig
Ratcliffe, a boyhood Manchester United supporter, has barely missed an opportunity to inform supporters that his main priority is not to line his already considerable pockets, but to drag an outdated organisation kicking and screaming into the modern era while closing the gap between themselves and Europe’s other A-list superclubs.
The appointments of Omar Berrada and Jean-Claude Blanc – the very definition of ‘best in class’ – should go some way to achieving those aims.
Dan Ashworth, meanwhile, is expected to be appointed as the club’s sporting director at some point down the line, depending on when they can finally agree terms on a compensation fee with Newcastle.
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