Sir Jim Ratcliffe reveals Sir Alex Ferguson's 'grumpy' response to being axed from £2m Man Utd ambassador role in tense meeting

INEOS chairman Ratcliffe, who bought a minority stake in United last year, has overseen a major cost-cutting operation at Old Trafford. Hundreds of employees have been laid off, and legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson has also been removed as the club's global ambassador. In a chat with the BBC, the British billionaire revealed his conversation with Ferguson and how the Scot reacted to losing his job.

Ratcliffe said: "I take my hat off to Alex. I sat down with Alex, just the two of us in the room. And I said, 'Look, the club isn’t where you may think it is. It is spending more than it’s earning, and we’re going to finish up in some difficulties. Honestly, we can’t really afford to continue to pay you £2 million a year.' I said, 'I’m going to leave it with you, let you have a think about it.' It was very grown up. Maybe a little bit grumpy at the beginning, but he got it. He came back three days later, after talking to his son, and said, 'Fine, I’m going to step away from it. My decision.'"

He added: "I think it reflects really well on Alex because he put the club before himself."

United have had a nightmare journey in the 2024-25 campaign. Erik ten Hag was sacked in October after a poor start, and things haven't really picked up under his replacement Ruben Amorim as United currently find themselves down in 14th in the Premier League table. After witnessing the club's series of poor performances, Ratcliffe admitted that some players are "overpaid" and "not good enough".

Amorim's men will be back in action on Thursday as they take on Real Sociedad in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 fixture at Old Trafford, having drawn the first leg 1-1 in Spain.