Sir Jim Ratcliffe is looking to build a football ‘galaxy’ as he prepares to complete his investment into Manchester United.
That is the view of former Nice boss Adrian Ursea, who worked with Ratcliffe during their time together in France.
Sky News report that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ‘on the brink’ of finalising the purchase of a 25% stake in United.
This has been rumoured for a while now and a deal finally appears to be close, worth around $33-a-share.
That means the Glazers are still the majority shareholders, but Ratcliffe is expected to seize control of football operations at Old Trafford.
Ex-Nice boss offers Jim Ratcliffe verdict ahead of Manchester United arrival
The hope is that Ratcliffe can now take United forward, not just with investment but also with smart decision-making.
Ratcliffe and Ineos have already moved into football in recent years, buying FC Lausanne-Sport in 2017 before landing Nice in 2019.
One man who knows all about working for Ratcliffe is Adrian Ursea, who managed Nice in the Ratcliffe era.
The Romanian had been an assistant coach at Nice before taking over from Patrick Vieira as manager in 2020.
Now managing Swiss side Etoile Carouge, Ursea has spoken to The Mirror about Ratcliffe and his wider vision about football.
Ursea believes that Ratcliffe wants to build a football ‘galaxy’, potentially in the multi-club system.
Red Bull and the City Football Group have been leading the way in that regard and Ursea thinks Ratcliffe wants the same thing.
Ursea did though note that Ratcliffe isn’t just a businessman and that he ‘loves’ United, backing him to make an impact at Old Trafford.
“INEOS are in Switzerland with Lausanne and they’re still committed within the life of the club,” said Ursea. “They are businessmen but beyond that they nominate the specialist people who know what’s truly inside the football club.”
“I think it will be the same thing in Manchester United as in Nice. They want to construct a galaxy like Red Bull or the City Football Group. Jim is a business person and businessman but I think and know that he also loves Manchester United,” he added.
How are Ratcliffe’s other clubs faring?
Nice have secured top-nine finishes in Ligue 1 in every year under Ratcliffe and Ineos.
The finishes take on a strange pattern; fifth then ninth, then fifth again before finishing ninth again last season.
Nice now sit second in Ligue 1 this season, just one point behind Paris Saint-Germain.
Young boss Francesco Farioli is earning huge praise for his work at Nice and is yet to lose a league game having landed the job over the summer.
Lausanne have been a little more up and down, suffering relegation in Ratcliffe’s first season at the helm.
They returned to the top flight in 2020 but finished bottom of the league again in 2022 before landing an immediate promotion.
Ratcliffe’s vision may well see United players head on loan to Nice and Lausanne, attempting to build up all three clubs in the coming years.
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