Ratcliffe vows to knock City and Liverpool ‘off their perch’
JIM RATCLIFFE last night vowed to knock Manchester City and Liverpool off their perches after becoming co-owner of Manchester United. Speaking for the first time since his 25 per cent stake in the club was ratified, the petrochemicals billionaire also revealed a decision on the future of Mason Greenwood — currently on loan in Spain after charges of rape against him were dropped — would be made in due course. The 71-year-old added it was his dream to build a new, 90,000-capacity Old Trafford to host England games and the FA Cup final, said United would take inspiration from City and Liverpool, and took a swipe at Newcastle over their handling of his approach for sporting director Dan Ashworth. In 2002, Alex Ferguson famously said his greatest achievement was knocking Liverpool ‘right off their perch’. And a smiling Ratcliffe repeated that battle cry. ‘We have a lot to learn from our noisy neighbour and the other neighbour,’ he said, referring to City and Liverpool. ‘They are the enemy at the end of the day. There is nothing I would like better than to knock both of them from their perch. ‘Equally, we are the three great northern clubs. They have been in a good place for a while and we can learn from them. ‘They have sensible organisations with great people. I am very respectful of them, but they are still the enemy.’ United have three options open to them for Old Trafford — move to a new site, refurbish it, or build a new home next to the existing stadium. Ratcliffe wants the third option. ‘In an ideal world, it’s a no-brainer,’ he said. ‘You want a stadium in the North, of the North, which would be a world-class stadium where England could play. You could have the FA Cup final and it’s not all centred around the south of England. ‘In an ideal world that’s where I would be, but you’ve got to be practical about life.’ United have suggested Greenwood will never play for them again, but Ratcliffe had a different stance. ‘It’s a fresh decision,’ he said. ‘You are dealing with young people who have not always been brought up in the best circumstances, who have a lot of money and don’t always get the guidance they should. We need to make a fair decision.’ Ratcliffe’s Ineos team have approached Newcastle for Ashworth but have been asked for £20m, with the threat of him remaining on gardening leave if a deal is not reached. ‘It’s a bit silly,’ Ratcliffe said. ‘I won’t get dragged into that. What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one-anda-half years.’