The Telegraph reports that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is apparently looking to Sir Alex Ferguson for advice and guidance over some matters prior to helming the entire football operation of Manchester United, upon acquiring 25% of the Old Trafford club. Even at this early juncture before Ratcliffe’s acquisition has been officially sealed, the United hierarchy has already announced the departure of CEO Richard Arnold.
Arnold’s departure is only one of more changes on the way at board level, as one of the other urgent items on the British billionaire’s to-do list is to rapidly appoint a new director of football. The OGC Nice owner apparently already has his heart set on some potential candidates, key among whom is Crystal Palace sporting director, Dougie Freedman.
Eagles chief Freedman is said to be could a long-term ally of Ferguson, which would be a huge boost in the former’s favor.
Freedman aside, other prime candidates in line to replace John Murtough are Atalanta’s Head of senior recruitment Lee Congerton, former AC Milan duo Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara, and Atletico Madrid’s Sporting Director Andrea Berta.
Freedman’s track record could augur well in his favor as he had been key in helping Palace acquire Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise, besides facilitating the loan deal for Conor Gallagher from Chelsea.
It is indeed a fitting indictment of Man United that they certainly have little to show for the around £1.4 billion they have splurged on players since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, with just one FA Cup, two Carabao Cups and a Europa League title to their once highly-feared name in a decade.
The Old Trafford establishment is clearly in need of a credible sporting director with the football nous of being capable of recruiting the right players for them, and could be keen on convincing Ratcliffe would be keen to have Ferguson backing his choice of the former Palace manager as the ideal candidate.
Director of football operations David Harrison is touted to be the next to be shown the exit door once the INEOS founder officially steps in. That aside, the future of manager Erik ten Hag is also in the balance after the disappointing start to 2023-24 that Man United have had.