SIR JIM RATCLIFFE was chatting with Manchester United managerial legend Sir Alex Ferguson during the Red Devils’ clash with Tottenham.
The Ineos boss attended his first match at Old Trafford today since it was agreed that he would purchase 25 per cent of the club.
Ratcliffe is convinced he will have control of football operations at Manchester United ratified within weeks.
That will include taking entire control of the footballing side of United.
Ahead of the game Ratcliffe walked around the corridors of Old Trafford meeting staff and media.
He could not answer many specific questions about his plans for the club with the Premier League still to grant his involvement which he believes is a matter of weeks away.
Sir Jim said: “Early to mid Feb. We hope they don’t find anything dodgy in our CV!
“It’s the first match for me since we got here. It’s taken a few turns as you know but these things take some doing.
“I am very excited to be here but I can’t answer any questions really. It’s a big match. We normally do well against Spurs.”
Sir Jim has been involved in elite sport with cycling, sailing and with Nice in Ligue 1.
He said this was undoubtedly the most exciting thing he has been involved in, having first set his eyes on United “two or three years ago”.
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“I have done a few exciting things but this caps it all there is no question about that,” he said.
He has already had meetings with manager Erik ten Hag but would not expand on what was said.
He said: “I have met Erik but inappropriate to say anything, until it is all formalised.
Sir Jim, born just outside of Manchester in Failsworth, is a lifelong United fan but said he has not been to Old Trafford for “two or three years” for a game having first come 60 years ago.
He named Paul Scholes and Eric Cantona as his favourite players and going forward said he would be a more regular visitor.
He said: “I can’t come all the time because I have a few other things to manage. But I will come.”
