Erik ten Hag and Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be on a collision course over Jadon Sancho’s future at Manchester United, according to reports. The Red Devils boss is insisting he will not change his stance on the winger despite the view of the incoming investor.
Ratcliffe’s £1.4billion purchase of 25 per cent of United is set to be confirmed in the coming days. It will put an end to a year-long saga since the Glazers first indicated they were open to new investment.
The INEOS founder will take control of the footballing operations at Old Trafford and build a team underneath him, including former British Cycling supremo Sir Dave Brailsford. Ratcliffe will also appoint a sporting director, with Paul Mitchell the favourite for the role.
Ratcliffe’s role will clearly see him have direct contact with Ten Hag. Reports have claimed that the billionaire wants to reach a resolution on the saga surrounding Sancho and see him reintegrated back into the squad.
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But the Mirror claims the pair could come to blows as Ten Hag is not prepared to soften his stance. The Dutchman has insisted Sancho must apologise for the statement he released on social media after he was left out of the trip to Arsenal in September.
Sancho is yet to say sorry and has not played a single minute for United since. Even with Ratcliffe’s influence, Ten Hag will not change his mind.
A source close to Ten Hag told the Mirror: “Ten Hag does not accept challenges to his authority from players. His position at United may not be as strong as it was after his first season in Manchester.
“But there could be a problem if his ability to decide how to handle players in his squad is questioned by other people at the club. Ten Hag showed with his treatment of Noa Lang at Ajax that he will not tolerate indiscipline from his players.”
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The report claims Ten Hag would prefer Sancho left in January. Juventus are one of the clubs linked with a move for the England international, who cost United over £70million in 2021.
Sancho has not trained with his team-mates in over two months and is not allowed in the same canteen as the top players at the club. Current United chiefs believe Ten Hag is right to insist Sancho must apologise.
But Ratcliffe’s new ideas could lead to a clash of personalities. Ten Hag is open to working with the 71-year-old but won’t be dictated to when it comes to player authority matters.
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