Manchester United’s Crisis: Sir Jim Ratcliffe Singles Out Five Players as “Not Good Enough”
Manchester United’s minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has publicly criticized five current players, stating they are “not good enough” and “overpaid” as the club continues to struggle in the Premier League.
Since finalizing his deal to become a minority stakeholder at Manchester United, INEOS chief Ratcliffe has witnessed the club endure one of its worst periods in recent history. Currently sitting 14th in the Premier League table, the Red Devils are on course for their lowest finish since the league’s formation in 1992.
In a revealing interview with BBC Sport, Ratcliffe directly addressed the club’s ongoing issues, specifically naming five players he considers problematic investments:
- Antony
- Casemiro
- Andre Onana
- Rasmus Hojlund
- Jadon Sancho
Financial Burden and Player Performance Concerns
One of the major criticisms Ratcliffe has faced involves the club’s financial management under his partial ownership. Addressing these concerns head-on, he explained:
“If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho. These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.”
Ratcliffe highlighted the ongoing financial impact of these decisions, noting: “For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17m to buy him in the summer.”
When pressed about whether these five players weren’t up to Manchester United’s standards, Ratcliffe candidly responded: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”
| Player | Issue Identified |
|---|---|
| Antony | Performance not matching transfer fee |
| Casemiro | Aging midfielder on high wages |
| Onana | Inconsistent performances |
| Hojlund | Still developing, large investment |
| Sancho | Loaned out, still costing the club |
The billionaire owner emphasized that transforming the squad will require patience: “We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.”
Despite his criticisms, Ratcliffe did highlight some bright spots in the squad, particularly praising captain Bruno Fernandes: “There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer. We definitely need Bruno, he’s a fantastic footballer.”
This frank assessment comes during a period of intense scrutiny for Manchester United, with fans increasingly concerned about the direction of the club under Erik ten Hag’s management and the new ownership structure.
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