Neville accuses Man Utd of 'playing Football Manager' before Ratcliffe arrived

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Neville believes the current squad are fighting for their future at the club
Neville believes the current squad are fighting for their future at the club

GARY NEVILLE has accused the Glazers of "playing Football Manager" with Manchester United.

The mood at Old Trafford has changed since the announcement that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has purchased 25 per cent of the club and will run football operations.

Gary Neville has taken aim at the Glazers for their mismanagement of the club eiqexidtiqxprw
Gary Neville has taken aim at the Glazers for their mismanagement of the clubCredit: PA
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already begun his rebuild at Man Utd
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already begun his rebuild at Man UtdCredit: PA
The Glazers are still majority owners at Old Trafford
The Glazers are still majority owners at Old TraffordCredit: AFP

Man Utd have won seven of their nine games since the news and off the pitch, the British billionaire has already appointed Omar Berrada as CEO from Manchester City.

And Ratcliffe is also lining up a move for highly-rated Newcastle transfer chief Dan Ashworth.

Asked about his possible arrival and the change already seen under Ineos, Neville said: "It was getting to the point where we were getting mocked for mentioning the Glazers every time Man Utd lost a football match.

Man Utd back-up goalkeeper Martin Dubravka recalled by NewcastleMan Utd back-up goalkeeper Martin Dubravka recalled by Newcastle

"People would say ‘Well the Glazers aren’t the ones playing football’.

"But for 10 years, every Manchester United manager operated without a CEO, without a sporting director, without a director of football.

"That is madness, forget negligence, that’s just madness.

"Obviously Sir Jim Ratcliffe is coming in and appointing a CEO that has actually been at a football club before and everyone is applauding him for it - that’s staggering.

"I can’t believe it hasn’t happened already, it’d never be allowed to happen at another club in the country."

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Neville then slammed the Glazers, saying: "They have shown blind loyalty to people who have been really good to them over a long period of time.

"Ed Woodward was at the club for 10-12 years, they have believed everything he said.

"It was a little bit like they were playing Football Manager.

"We can literally go and look at the best players without having serious people operating the club."

Watch jubilant Al Nassr fans chant ‘SIIU’ ahead of Ronaldo free transfer arrivalWatch jubilant Al Nassr fans chant ‘SIIU’ ahead of Ronaldo free transfer arrival

He highlighted the signings of Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as evidence the Glazers signed big name players with a lack of long-term vision.

Di Maria arrived in 2014 for £60million, he stayed just one year and scored four goals before joining PSG for a reported £44m fee.

Falcao came in on loan the same year and struggled to make an impact, finding the back of the net just four times.

Ibrahimovic, however, was a success as he won the Europa League and Carabao Cup with Man Utd, scoring 29 goals across two seasons.

Ratcliffe is determined to take the club down a different direction in the transfer market - rather than be drawn in by the biggest name players.

And he is set to ruthlessly rebuild the squad, with Neville convinced the current players are fighting to prove their worth to the new owner.

The pundit said: "What Ratcliffe has come in and done is say to all of them 'I'm looking at every single one of you lot - you're all playing for your future."

Angel Di Maria left just a season after joining Man Utd
Angel Di Maria left just a season after joining Man UtdCredit: PA:Empics Sport
The signing of Radamel Falcao also did not work out
The signing of Radamel Falcao also did not work outCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Zlatan Ibrahimovic won two trophies with the club
Zlatan Ibrahimovic won two trophies with the clubCredit: Getty

Alex Smith

Manchester United, Man Utd transfer news, Man Utd takeover, Football Manager, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Radamel Falcao, Gary Neville, Angel Di Maria

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