March 19th 2024.
According to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the co-owners of Manchester United, the team is lacking in a few key areas that need to be addressed. One of those areas is a creative and skilled midfielder, similar to the likes of legendary player Paul Scholes. Sir Ratcliffe believes that this type of player is crucial for controlling and dictating the pace of a match.
As part of his £1.3billion minority takeover of the club, Sir Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford have taken control of football operations at Old Trafford. Their first priority has been to overhaul the behind-the-scenes structure of the club, with the recent appointment of Omar Berrada as the new chief executive, poached from rival team Manchester City.
More changes are expected to come, especially before the summer transfer window. It is rumored that Dan Ashworth will be named as United's first-ever sporting director, assuming a compensation package can be agreed with Newcastle. Additionally, a new head of recruitment will be brought in to work under Ashworth.
While Sir Ratcliffe believes that establishing this new structure is more important than just spending money in the transfer market, he does acknowledge that there are areas of the squad that need attention. One of those areas is central midfield, where he feels the team has plenty of defensive options but is lacking a playmaking passer.
When asked which former United great he would bring back to the current team, Sir Ratcliffe immediately mentioned Paul Scholes. He believes that Scholes' skill and creativity would greatly benefit the team. He also mentioned players like Roy Keane, Casemiro, and Kobbie Mainoo, who are more defensive-minded, but feels that someone like Scholes or Andres Iniesta is missing from the team.
In addition to a creative midfielder, Sir Ratcliffe also believes that the team is lacking a strong presence in the backline. He specifically mentioned former United player Jaap Stam, who he believes was irreplaceable and left a void that the team has not been able to fill.
United has made big investments in recent years, bringing in experienced players like Raphael Varane and Casemiro from Real Madrid. However, there are now rumors that these players may be leaving for Saudi Arabia. The team's ability to spend in the upcoming transfer window may be influenced by their performance and whether they can secure a spot in the Champions League next season. Currently, they are six points behind fifth-placed Tottenham, who is likely to secure a bonus place in the competition due to the Premier League's coefficient score.
In the world of football, things are constantly changing and evolving, and it seems that Manchester United is no exception. With the new ownership and potential changes in the team's structure, everyone is eagerly anticipating what will happen in the upcoming transfer window and how it will impact the team's performance. But one thing is for sure, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has high hopes for the team and is determined to see them succeed.
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