Sir Jim Ratcliffe anticipates the Premier League’s approval of his assumption of control over Manchester United’s football operations to occur “by mid-February.”
In his first public statement regarding his investment in the club, the 71-year-old businessman discussed the matter ahead of Sunday’s game against Tottenham.
After extensive negotiations, Ratcliffe reached an agreement to purchase a 25% stake in United from the Glazer family, the American owners, for £1.3 billion. The announcement was made on Christmas Eve.
As the founder of INEOS and the owner of French team Nice and Swiss side Lausanne, Ratcliffe will join a three-person board alongside Joel Glazer and INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford once the Premier League approves his investment.
However, Ratcliffe clarified during discussions with reporters at Old Trafford that the deal will not be finalised before the end of the January transfer window.
“Early to mid-February,” Ratcliffe said when asked when he expected the deal to be ratified. “Hopefully we don’t find anything dodgy on my CV.
“This is the first match for me since we got here. I am very excited to be here, but I can’t answer any questions really.”
When asked how long he has wanted to be involved with United, Ratcliffe said: “A few years. It has taken a few turns, as you know but these things take some doing.
“When did I first come to a game? When I was a kid. Quite young. Ten or something, it is 60 years ago.”