When Erik ten Hag met Sir Jim Ratcliffe: How the Man Utd manager bumped into his potential new boss

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover of Manchester United could move a step closer this week when the club’s board of directors vote on whether to accept his offer to purchase 25 percent of the Red Devils.

After months of negotiating, news broke on Saturday night that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani had withdrawn from the race, leaving Ratcliffe’s offer the only remaining option for the Glazers.

It means that Ratcliffe could soon be overseeing everything from a sporting sense, with the Ineos delegation reportedly set to take charge of the football operations, and the Glazers would be left to oversee the financial aspects of the club.

That would mean manager Erik ten Hag would ultimately answer to Ratcliffe. The pair have actually met before at United’s Carrington training ground, when the British petrochemicals billionaire and his Ineos representatives carried out a tour of the club’s facilities early this year.

The visit took place on a Friday 17 March, as the media were present at Carrington ahead of that weekend’s FA Cup encounter against Fulham. Speaking in his press conference, Ten Hag revealed how the pair had crossed paths.

“I just met them and shook hands but I am focused on the game,” the Dutchman said at the time. “We play a big game on Sunday and all our focus is on that. Others in the club are dealing with potential investors. My job is focus on the game so let’s talk about the game Fulham, it is a big tie so let’s get ready for that.”

Ratcliffe also viewed Old Trafford in March, just a day after the Qatari delegation had toured the club’s premises.