How Manchester United dressing room reacted to Sir Jim Ratcliffe minority takeover

Diogo Dalot says the Manchester United squad is feeling positive about the arrival of new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and is thankful that the takeover process is progressing.

The defender said he hopes the news will bring “energy” to the club but underlined that it is what happens on the pitch that matters most. It was confirmed on Christmas Eve that Ineos chief Ratcliffe is set to own 25 per cent of the club once his investment passes Premier League regulatory tests.

He is set to bring in former Paris-Saint Germain chief Jean-Claude Blanc and Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford as part of his boardroom panel.

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Ratcliffe will oversee all football-related matters at Old Trafford, including transfers, contracts and recruitment staff appointments and has pledged $300m towards infrastructure.

Speaking ahead of kick-off against Villa, Dalot - selected to play at left-back with Luke Shaw absent - said he hoped Ratcliffe could make a positive impact at the club when asked what the dressing room had made of the Ineos chief's arrival. “Obviously we all want the best for the club,” he told Amazon Prime Video.

“Hopefully this [Ratcliffe's arrival] brings energy and positive feelings and positive thoughts to everyone inside the club and hopefully we can win all together so we are all happy that things are moving. We just want to win games because we all know what matters is what happens on the pitch.”

Ratcliffe is targeting Newcastle lead Dan Ashworth as John Murtough’s replacement as football director as he eyes a shake-up of the hierarchy, which is already taking shape with Richard Arnold leaving his post as CEO