Gary Neville has largely welcomed Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s interest in buying Manchester United but threw caution to wind as to what a takeover would mean in reality.
The Ineos billionaire made his intentions official this week, almost two months after the Glazers put the club up for sale. Ratcliffe indicated his interest in August before seeming to back away.
The British businessman, who has investments in Formula One, cycling and French football club OGC Nice, is a boyhood United fan and hails from Failsworth. Neville said that this was a major positive although the main goal is to see the current owners depart.
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Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “The main thing is that the Glazers leave as quickly as possible and the second thing is that whoever takes it over, if they could hand it over to people who are in good hands and have a feeling for the club, that would be great.
“Jim Ratcliffe was born in Manchester and knows the area. If he wins it, I think there will be a lot of very happy Manchester United fans. He would want to do the right thing by the club - in fact I am sure that he would. That’s the main thing beyond the Glazers leaving, that they don’t hand it over.”
However, Neville warned that Ratcliffe wouldn’t have bottomless bags of money to splash on the club and that the Reds ultimately need an owner who can strike out their debts.
He added: “I don’t think United can hand it over to another investment firm who are expecting a return on their money. That’s what worries me a little bit about private enquiry coming into football and that ultimately, they are looking for a return on their money and a return on their investment.
“If that’s the case, it could mean that United aren’t in a similar place to where this club [Manchester City] are here, or Newcastle with benefactors who are happy to live debt free, not have interest payments, not leverage debt against the club. Manchester United need to be a debt-free football club, with someone who’s willing to put money in.”
Neville continued: “The problem is the price is going to be big and you’re going to need deep pockets. Whether Jim will need to bring people with him, I don’t know.
"But I’m hopeful that can happen, but it could be any number of buyers, it’s not going to be just Jim Ratcliffe bidding to buy this football club.
“The main thing is that they do the right thing, I’d like to see the criteria for what a new owner of Manchester United looks like. I’ve said that before… debt free, making sure they manage the facilities, making sure they put money into the football project. I think they are really important things.”
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