October 12, 2022
The brief from today:
Jim Ratcliffe delivers bad news to United fans
Manchester United fans have been protesting against the Glazer family ownership of the club since the Americans took over in 2005. While the negative sentiments have been in varying degrees over the years, they have always remained present on some level. Following the retirement of long-time manager, Alex Ferguson, in 2013, the team’s form has been inconsistent and mediocre. The performances on the pitch—in addition to the way the club has been managed—has led to increased calls from the fans for the Glazers to sell United. Following Chelsea’s sale earlier this year—under completely different circumstances—the clamor grew once again from United fans for the club to also be put on the market. Jim Ratcliffe, the British billionaire and owner of Ligue 1 club, Nice, who also happens to be a United fan, has now delivered some unwanted news to club’s fanbase. According to Ratcliffe, whose wealth makes him the richest man in Britain, the club isn’t for sale. The INEOS owner said he actually met with Avram and Joel Glazer—who are the two members of the family primarily involved with running United—and discussed the possibility of a purchase. While Ratcliffe was complimentary of the conduct shown towards him by the two brothers, he did confirm that they, and the other four Glazer siblings, have no interest in entertaining a sale. Two things were then made clear by Ratcliffe, the first being that he was indeed interested in buying the club and would have done so in the summer when he was probing, and the second is that he isn’t willing to just “sit around hoping that one day Manchester United will become available”. That said, the Glazers are now also fully aware of his interest, so there could be a chance that if they do change positions, then he would be among the first to know.
Jim Ratcliffe (above) poured cold water on any hopes that Manchester United is for sale
CAS ruling impacts multiple parties
Towards the end of the 2017/18 season, Sporting Lisbon had narrowly missed out on qualification for the following season’s Champions League. The league season was effectively over, but there was still the final of the domestic cup which Sporting needed to prepare for. During the training session for that, however, things suddenly took a horrific turn for the players when roughly 50 masked men attacked the team. Players were left injured and traumatized by the incident, and with suspicions that club president, Bruno de Carvalho, may have orchestrated the whole thing, they took measures into their own hands. Various players rescinded their contracts with the club out of fear for their safety, and moved on to new teams. Among these players was a 19-year-old Rafael Leao, who would move on to Ligue 1 side, Lille. After one year in France, Leao’s form earned him another move to Serie A side, AC Milan. Sporting Lisbon, however, were seeking damages from the mass exodus that occurred at the club without the team recouping any transfer fees. As a result, Leao became one of their targets, and a court case was launched demanding compensation for his transfer to Lille claiming that he unilaterally rescinded his contract without involving Sporting. Eventually the courts ruled in favor of Sporting and held Leao liable for €16.5 million, which he would appeal, but the original decision was upheld. In addition to the Portuguese winger, Lille were also penalized, but the French club’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) left things in limbo. The ruling of the appeal from CAS has now come down, and Lille are judged to be equally liable along with Leao for the €16.5 million owed to Sporting. This decision could impact Milan as the club have been locked in contract extension talks with Leao for a year now. His current deal with the Serie A champions expires in 2024, but with his form steadily improving the club is keen to tie him down to a long term deal. The problem, however, isn’t just the player’s request for a massive pay increase, it was also the fine he was responsible for, and how his wages would be garnished in order to settle the debt. Now that he isn’t solely responsible, and Lille will have to cover a portion of the fine, contract talks with Milan could be somewhat facilitated as a result.
The CAS ruling against Lille impacts them, Rafael Leao (above), and AC Milan