Varene takes swipe at Ratcliffe saying 'no structure' at Man Utd

Wednesday, 19 February 2025 at 14:33

Raphael Varane has taken aim at Manchester United’s leadership, claiming the club lacks a clear structure under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The 31-year-old Frenchman left Old Trafford last summer when his contract expired, bringing an end to a three-year spell after his high-profile move from Real Madrid in 2021.

He later retired from football in September after suffering a knee injury at Serie B side Como.

Varane, who won multiple Champions League titles at Madrid, was struck by the stark contrast between the two clubs, pointing to United’s lack of organisation.

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"Even from the inside as a player, there wasn’t a clear structure on how things were going to work," Varane told The Athletic."There hasn’t been a fixed methodology for years."

Comparing United to Madrid, he noted the Spanish giants had a defined way of operating at every level—something he felt was absent in Manchester.

"At Madrid, they have a structured approach to recruitment, playing style, and communication. At United, it wasn’t clear.There were too many people involved in decision-making, and we didn’t even know who was responsible."

United’s Leadership in Turmoil Under Ratcliffe

Ratcliffe took charge of football operations after securing a 27.7% stake in May 2024, overseeing a complete overhaul of the club’s hierarchy. He appointed:

Dan Ashworth as sporting director
Omar Berrada from Manchester City as CEO
Jason Wilcox as technical director
Sir Dave Brailsford, his longtime INEOS associate, to assist with day-to-day operations

However, despite these sweeping changes, United remain in disarray.

Ashworth was dismissed after just six months
Erik ten Hag was sacked following United’s worst-ever Premier League start
The club sits 15th in the table after a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham
Only one player, Patrick Dorgu, was signed in January

Varane Questions Ten Hag’s Tenure

Varane also admitted he was surprised Ten Hag lasted as long as he did, hinting that the Dutchman had lost the dressing room long before his dismissal.

"I was surprised he stayed," he said. "The connection with the group no longer existed."

Ratcliffe’s Cost-Cutting Sparks Backlash

Beyond on-pitch struggles, Ratcliffe has drawn criticism for widespread redundancies, slashing 200 jobs last year and even removing club legends like Sir Alex Ferguson from the payroll.

Despite the INEOS chief’s promises of transformation, United appear weaker than ever—both on and off the pitch.