Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have made a major decision around a potential role at Old Trafford for one Manchester United legend, according to stunning reports.
The 72-year-old Manchester United co-owner captured his minority stake in the Premier League club in late 2023 before it was ratified in early 2024.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos team took control of football operations at the Premier League club after the British billionaire became the club’s co-owner.
The British billionaire has made sweeping changes behind the scenes at United, including the appointment of Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth to key positions.
Alongside a shake-up to the United hierarchy, Ratcliffe’s team have made moves to shift the culture around the Red Devils and cut costs around running the club.
One of the key changes in the Ratcliffe regime included a signal to end remote working for United employees and a return-to-office mandate put in place for June.
Ratcliffe and Ineos decide on Man Utd legend
According to The Daily Star, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have now made the controversial call not to hand Wayne Rooney an ambassadorial role at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney is widely regarded as one of the best strikers of all time and the Manchester United legend had a sensational spell at Old Trafford.
The 39-year-old England legend snapped up five Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, a Europa League, an FA Cup and three League Cups with United.
Rooney, who is currently manager of Plymouth Argyle, also became the Red Devils’ all-time leading scorer after he eclipsed Sir Bobby Charlton in the goalscoring charts.
The Daily Star reports that Ratcliffe and Co ruled out an ambassadorial contract for Rooney and United ‘wouldn’t offer’ him the role while he ‘remains in work’ as a manager.
United have several former players currently in ambassadorial roles, including Red Devils legends Denis Irwin, Andy Cole, Nemanja Vidic and Peter Schmeichel.
Ratcliffe’s controversy over ambassadorial roles
Ratcliffe and Ineos caused controversy with their call to axe Sir Alex Ferguson from his ambassadorial contract at United at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Sir Alex Ferguson held talks with Ratcliffe before the news emerged in October and the conversation between the pair ended ‘amicably’ about the situation.
The legendary former United manager would still attend matches regularly and retained his seat in the directors’ box, despite the end of his ambassadorial contract.
Ratcliffe’s decision to end Ferguson’s contract was part of Ineos’ plans to create efficiency in spending, with the move deeply polarising United fans.
United legends like Eric Cantona and Paul Scholes were among the former players to criticise the move made by Ratcliffe and Co over former head coach Ferguson.
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