Man Utd CEO threatens to SACK staff members handing information to media in fiery 580-word email after latest financial leaks

The email comes amid a string of negative stories about the club's new minority owners, INEOS, in recent weeks. Berrada claims in his message to staff that anyone caught digressing sensitive information to the media will be sacked on the basis of gross misconduct.

INEOS have overseen what looks set to be United's worst Premier League campaign every, with 10 wins from their final 13 matches required to avoid it being their lowest points total on record. There have also been stories about mass redundancies and inflated ticket prices at the club, with INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe closely associated with those efforts.

In his email, reported by The Telegraph, Berrada wrote: "Anyone disclosing information outside of the club is breaching their obligations of confidentiality, and we are very clear that this will be considered gross misconduct. To protect the club and its colleagues, additional measures are being put in place to prevent future breaches of confidentiality and also identify any persons responsible."

That an email related to leaking has itself been leaked suggests that United's efforts to stop the drip-feed of information from the club are going to prove difficult. INEOS have bold plans to regenerate Old Trafford, while 'Mission 21' outlines their ambition to win the Premier League title, but stories like this one are unlikely to make the regime popular with supporters.