Revealed: Man Utd staff believed Ruben Amorim might quit Old Trafford amid 'tensions' with INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe

INEOS chief Ratcliffe paid a visit to the Red Devils’ Carrington training base in February as concerns mounted regarding a growing injury list. Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Toby Collyer all picked up knocks in one training session, before Amad Diallo damaged ankle ligaments a matter of days later.

Ratcliffe was among those watching on as Ivorian winger Amad was laid low and attended a medical meeting at which Amorim saw his methods scrutinised. United were left fielding a bench made up of academy players when facing Tottenham in Premier League action.

According to The Athletic, "tensions" between board and dugout began to build around that time. It is claimed that certain members of United’s backroom team "got the impression that Amorim was seriously contemplating walking away, such was his frustration with the performances and working environment".

Ratcliffe has tried to be hands-on at Old Trafford, after implementing controversial cost-cutting measures, but questions have been asked of whether he can occasionally go too far. The Athletic reports that after asking masseurs and chefs to update him on what they were doing and why, Ratcliffe has also offered his own input to United’s medical and physiotherapy team, going as far as discussing "how he stretched before the London Marathon".

Such an approach was always going to result in butting heads with Amorim at some stage, with the Portuguese being described as an "emotional figure". He remains at the United helm for now, despite overseeing a 15th place finish in the Premier League and a Europa League final defeat, with the Red Devils drawing up more rebuilding projects on and off the pitch.