Ratcliffe poaches Formula One engineer in bid to improve 'poor' recruitment analysis

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to turbocharge Manchester United’s transfer strategy by poaching a top Mercedes F1 engineer to drag the club’s data analysis into the 21st century.

The Red Devils’ billionaire minority owner, fed up with a string of costly signings gone wrong, is reportedly in talks to bring Michael Sansoni from the Formula One giants to Old Trafford—hoping his expertise can stop United’s recruitment rot.

Ratcliffe, who snapped up a 27.7% stake in United in December 2023, didn’t hold back in a recent chat with fanzine United We Stand. “We’re still in the last century on data analysis here,” he fumed.

“It doesn’t really exist at United—it’s ‘very poor’ compared to top clubs.” With over £900million splashed on transfers since 2019—think £85m Antony (now on loan at Atlético), £73m Jadon Sancho (Chelsea-bound), and £47m Andre Onana (benched after Lyon’s 2-2 horror show)—Ratcliffe blames shoddy data for United’s 12th-place slump.

Enter Sansoni, a senior performance simulation engineer who’s spent 11 years honing Mercedes’ F1 edge, per BBC Sport.

Ratcliffe’s INEOS, part-owners of the Silver Arrows alongside Toto Wolff, gives him an inside track to lure Sansoni, who’s set to leave Brackley at year’s end.

The move would mirror Liverpool’s data-driven coups under Fenway Sports Group, who’ve nabbed stars like Mo Salah on the cheap. “Michael’s a numbers wizard,” a source told The Sun. “He could spot a gem where United’s scouts see a dud.”

United’s transfer blunders are legendary—Antony’s one goal this season, Sancho’s Chelsea loan, and Rasmus Højlund’s £52m exit talk after eight goals in 42 games scream for change (TMW). Sansoni’s job?

Build a system to rival Brighton or Brentford, who use stats to unearth bargains. Ratcliffe told United We Stand: “We must have the best recruitment in the world. Data’s the key—there’s immense info we’re not tapping.”

The timing’s no accident. United’s 2-1 scrap past Newcastle on Thursday—Altay Bayindir in for a shaky Onana—showed fight, but Lyon’s late collapse exposed old wounds. With Ruben Amorim eyeing Ipswich’s Liam Delap (£40m) and Porto’s Alan Varela (£50m), Sansoni could ensure the next £900m isn’t torched. Fans on X are intrigued: @MUFC_Lad

posted, “F1 brains for transfers? Ratcliffe’s cooking!” But @RedDevilSkeptic warned, “More suits, same flops?”

Ratcliffe’s no stranger to bold moves—INEOS slashed United’s staff and binned Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassador role to cut costs. Sansoni’s arrival, smoothed by Mercedes ties, could be his shrewdest yet. As United gear up for Lyon’s Europa League return leg, the data revolution might just shift them from mid-table to contenders.