Embarrassing from Jim Ratcliffe as Man Utd spit their dummy out over Dan Ashworth deal
After being official confirmed as a partial owner of Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been taking questions from the media today.
As expected, he was asked about the Dan Ashworth; their top target for their vacant sporting director role who is currently on gardening leave until 2026 unless Man Utd meet our demands.
After Ratcliffe called Ashworth a "10/10 sporting director" and "one of the best around", he stated it would be "completely absurd" and "stupid" for the 52-year-old to be sat doing nothing for the next 18 months, calling the whole situation "a bit silly."
He's suggested that a grown up conversation is needed, yet speaks like a spoilt brat who can't accept the fact we won't simply hand over our recently appointed director for a fee that suits them. Sorry Jim, but that's not how it works when you attempt to poach a key member of staff before even bothering to make an formal approach!
Here's what he had to say in full about Ashworth and the rumoured £20m asking price on his head:
"I think Dan Ashworth is a 10/10 sporting director - one of the best around. He would be very good for Manchester United. It is understandable that somebody like Dan would see the Manchester United job as a very interesting challenge at this stage of his career.
"Ultimately, you can't really criticise Dan for looking at maybe the most coveted job in football as a sporting director - particularly with the challenge at Manchester United. What doesn't make sense is for Dan Ashworth to be sat doing nothing for 18 months. That's completely stupid."
"It’s a bit silly, personally. I wont get dragged into that. What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years. We had a very grown up conversation with City about Omar Berrada.
"When things got done we sorted it out very amicably. They could see why he wanted to take that challenge. You look at Pep when he’s done with one of his footballers; he doesn’t want them to sit in the garden for one and a half years. He doesn’t do that. That’s not the way the UK works or the law works."
The sheer arrogance and sense of entitlement to presume Man Utd can have an under-contract Ashworth - who hasn't been here long and works for a direct rivals - on his terms. Ratcliffe will fit right in at Man Utd.
