'It is their decision not ours' - Everything Jim Ratcliffe has said about buying Manchester United

Manchester United are set to enter into a new era for the first time in almost two decades, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe expected to secure a 25% investment in the club.

Having overseen all footballing matters since 2005, the Glazer family are relenting control regarding the footballing operations at the Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag continues in his role as manager. Former Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell will reportedly join the club too.

With the long drawn-out saga expected to now be resolved ahead of the resumption of domestic football next week, Ratcliffe has beaten off stiff competition from Qatari royal Sheik Jassim in a process that has lingered on for almost three years in total.

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A lifelong United fan, Ratcliffe's interest in taking over has long been known to most around Old Trafford, even despite his attempts to take over at Chelsea as early as last summer. BBC's Dan Roan spoke at length to Ratcliffe, as he was first asked shouldn't his attempt be the way of his boyhood club.

''Yes I can understand that, but Manchester United isn't for sale,'' said the 71-year-old back in May 2022, with his attempts to purchase Chelsea eventually failing to come to any further fruition.

Fast forward to this summer and Ratcliffe was locked in a war with Jassim, as they two continued to talk with Raine Group, with the Glazer family weighing up their options in regards to new investment or the choice of a full sale.

"I've signed a non-disclosure agreement so I can't say too much," the INEOS founder and chief executive is quoted as saying by the Sun. "But there is still a process - and we are in the process.

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