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Gary Neville says ‘whole of Manchester United needs disrupting’ as Jim Ratcliffe arrival looms

  • While he anticipates changes at boardroom level, Neville insists manager Erik Ten Hag should be given more time despite poor start this season
  • ‘He’s had terrible injuries, and all around him there’s been chaos as well,’ former United captain insists during visit to Hong Kong

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Gary Neville poses on the red carpet upon arrival to attend the Premiere of ‘Beckham’ in London on October 3, 2023. Photo: AFP

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville insisted the club needs “disrupting” as he welcomed the impending arrival of British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

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The Ineos chairman is set to acquire a 25 per cent stake in the struggling English giants and will reportedly inject £245 million (US$305 million) into upgrading infrastructure after a protracted takeover saga that started a year ago.

The 71-year-old could have his work cut out, however, with Neville recently quipping United need “Daniel Radcliffe, not Jim Ratcliffe”.

The tongue-in-cheek nod to the star of the Harry Potter film franchise offered a damning assessment of the scale of overhaul required, but Neville sees Ratcliffe’s investment as a good first step.

“It’s more positive than the current status quo you have where the club is obviously stuck,” Neville told the Post during Friday’s Leap to Entrepreneurship event at Hong Kong’s Eaton Club in Champion Tower, where he promoted his new luxury residential project, the W Residences Manchester, in association with the Asia Bankers Club.
Gary Neville (second right) is seeking buyers in Hong Kong for his new luxury development, the W Residences Manchester.
Gary Neville (second right) is seeking buyers in Hong Kong for his new luxury development, the W Residences Manchester.

“I would have liked for it to have been a full sale, but that’s not happening and this is a lot better than the alternative which is for the Glazer family to remain in control alone.

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