Topics: Football, Manchester United, Patrick Vieira, Premier League, Nice
Patrick Vieira explained what Sir Jim Ratcliffe would “never” do as Manchester United owner.
Over the past three months, Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim have been locked in a takeover battle to buy Manchester United from the Glazers.
While Ratcliffe’s Ineos group have only made an offer for a controlling stake in the club, Sheikh Jassim has submitted a world record £5billion bid for a 100 per cent stake in the Premier League outfit.
And according to the Sun, the Glazers are expected to confirm the “winning” bid within days, with Ratcliffe believed to be the preferred bidder.
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Indeed, the Briton is thought to be in the driving seat given the Glazer family’s preference to sell majority control rather than flog the entire club.
Moreover, while Sheikh Jassim’s £5billion bid for full control was the highest sum offered, Ratcliffe’s reported deal for 50 per cent placed a greater value on the Premier League giants.
According to former Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira, who worked under Ratcliffe’s ownership at French side Nice, the British billionaire won’t interfere with Erik ten Hag’s affairs should he complete a takeover of United.
Ratcliffe's Ineos took over Nice in July 2019, a season into Vieira’s tenure as manager there. The Arsenal legend lasted another 18 months before being sacked, following a run of 5 losses in a row in all competitions.
On Ratcliffe Vieira told FourFourTwo: “He’d never interfere with my work.
“We’d talk about football when we met, about the team and our lives, but he’s not an owner who will get involved too much and prevent the manager from doing his job.
"His ambitions and expectations are high, so you know where you stand, but you can do your job freely.”
As well as Nice, Ratcliffe also owns Swiss Super League side FC Lausanne-Sport and sailing team Ineos Britannia.
Cycling team Ineos Grenadiers, which has yielded success in the Tour de France, is also among the company's roster.
