Tensions are mounting at Manchester United as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's frank nature with the media has reportedly been irritating the Glazer family.
The British billionaire, 72, who took control of football operations at Old Trafford in December 2023, has implemented sweeping changes at the club amid a financial crisis.
Despite taking considerable heat off the American owners, the Glazers are said to be increasingly uncomfortable with Ratcliffe's direct approach and public commentary on the club's finances.
Ratcliffe and Ineos secured a £1.3billion takeover of 27.7 per cent of Manchester United in late 2023, also granting them complete control over the club's football operations.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos own 27.7 per cent of Manchester United, but have complete control of the football operations
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Since taking the reins, Ratcliffe has implemented a stringent regime focused on cutting costs and boosting revenue.
His approach has been characterised by decisive action and public transparency about the club's financial challenges. For example, cash reserves of over £300million were almost completely depleted after the Covid-19 pandemic, reports The Athletic.
The cost-cutting measures have been severe, however, with approximately a third of staff made redundant, and privileges for staff and club ambassadors, including legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, have been slashed.
Sir Alex Ferguson fell victim to the cuts, with his ambassador role being slashed
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Ticket prices have also been raised mid-season as part of the revenue-boosting strategy. These changes have formed part of what has been described as an "extremely public leadership" approach by Ratcliffe.
His direct manner of implementing cuts, including what sources call "morale-sapping redundancy rounds", stands in stark contrast to the Glazers' traditionally more reserved style, with Ratcliffe's March interview with Gary Neville about the club's finances particularly irritating the American owners.
His claim that Manchester United could have gone bust by Christmas without his brutal cuts has "not sat easily" with the Glazers, it's claimed.
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The British billionaire's blunt assessment of the club's financial health represented a significant public admission. But it highlighted the severity of the situation he inherited when taking control of football operations.
Ratcliffe said to Sky Sports: "The simple answer is the club runs out of money at Christmas if we don't do those things.
"Manchester United had gone off the rails a long way. If you look at the numbers, they were fairly scary because they had lost control of where the ship was headed. And the costs had got out of control."
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Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer has now been at the club for 20 years
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He starkly warned: "At the end of 2025, Manchester United would have run out of cash."
Ratcliffe's choice of meeting locations has further strained relations with the Glazers. The British billionaire has reportedly insisted on holding executive committee meetings in places convenient for him, such as Monaco.
These locations make it difficult for the American owners to attend and have "ruffled feathers" among the Glazer family.
While Ratcliffe's intervention may have been financially necessary, his methods have clearly unsettled the long-standing ownership family.
While Ratcliffe's intervention may have been financially necessary, his methods have clearly unsettled the long-standing ownership family.
The clash of management styles continues to define this uneasy power-sharing arrangement at Old Trafford.
One thing that could make things easier would be a return to the Champions League, something they can achieve through beating Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21 despite languishing just above the relegation zone domestically.
The additional revenue could be crucial for the Red Devils in their efforts at rebuilding the club to a financial powerhouse once more.
