Ratcliffe gives reason why he would walk away as Man Utd fans protest

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has stated that he would consider leaving the club if he faced the same level of abuse from fans as the Glazer family.

Ratcliffe, 72, invested £1.3bn last year to acquire a 28.94% stake in United, giving his company, Ineos, control over football operations.

Despite acknowledging that he "doesn't mind being unpopular," he emphasized there are limits to what he would tolerate.

His comments come amid growing discontent among supporters following cost-cutting measures at the club, including a second wave of redundancies that will see up to 200 staff members lose their jobs, in addition to the 250 who were let go last year. A mid-season ticket price increase, impacting under-16s and pensioners, has also drawn criticism.

Speaking to the BBC, Ratcliffe said some United players were "not good enough" and "overpaid," adding that the club had been at risk of financial collapse. The following day, he announced ambitious plans to build a new £2bn stadium with a 100,000-seat capacity.

The Glazers, who remain majority owners after their controversial leveraged buyout in 2005, have faced long-standing hostility from fans. Ratcliffe admitted that while he can handle criticism in the short term, excessive hostility would make his position untenable.

"I can put up with it for a while," Ratcliffe told The Sunday Times. "Nobody likes seeing Manchester United struggle, and nobody likes the difficult decisions we're making right now. If I become a target, I can deal with that. But if the level of abuse reached what the Glazers have endured, I'd have to say, ‘Enough’s enough, let someone else take over.’

"They [the Glazers] can't even attend matches anymore. They've stepped back into the shadows, so now I’m the one taking all the criticism. Since we came in, I haven't seen them. It’s, ‘Thanks, Jim, you’re doing a great job.’

"Right now, I don't need security, and I don't want to. But if it got to that stage, it wouldn't be worth it—it wouldn’t be enjoyable."

Ratcliffe's arrival at Old Trafford was initially welcomed by many fans, with hopes that a lifelong supporter and billionaire could restore United to its former heights. However, tensions have since escalated due to a series of unpopular decisions.

Recent protests have seen banners reading "We want our club back" and "£1bn stolen," referencing the amount spent servicing debt accrued since the Glazer takeover. United's current debt, including £300m in outstanding transfer fees, exceeds £1bn, with £37m paid in interest last year alone.