It has been reported that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in Manchester United is anticipated to entail a substantial commitment of £245 million towards enhancing the club’s infrastructure.

Initially, the British billionaire sought to acquire the Glazer family’s complete stake in the Old Trafford club, but he is now looking to secure a 25% stake.

When factoring in this additional expenditure, his investment is projected to reach approximately £1.5 billion.

According to Sky News, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to pay an initial sum of around £1.25 billion for his shareholding, with the remainder of his investment likely to be made in installments, with the majority of it expected to materialize before the end of 2023.

Following the withdrawal of rival bidder Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani from the race to purchase Manchester United, progress has been made in finalizing Ratcliffe’s investment.

INEOS shareholders have been assured that the investment will be sourced from the billionaire’s personal wealth rather than from the company, and the same applies to the additional £245 million.

Sky News reports indicate that this extra commitment will be allocated to enhancing the physical infrastructure of the club rather than being invested in the playing staff.

In the most recent transfer window, Manchester United spent close to £200 million on new players, with the priciest addition being the £72 million striker, Rasmus Hojlund.

There are still some unanswered questions about the specifics of Ratcliffe’s share purchase, and the total cost of his investment could potentially exceed the estimated £1.5 billion, depending on the final price of his stake.

This recent development follows indications from October that Ratcliffe’s main focus, once his investment is formalized, will be on increasing the capacity of Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.

Some fans have voiced concerns about the current owners’ treatment of the stadium in comparison to that of Premier League rivals.

These plans, if realized, would involve expanding the stadium’s capacity to 90,000 as part of a modernization effort, as its current capacity stands just below 75,000.

Infrastructure development was one of the topics discussed by the Glazer family in November 2022 when they initially announced their intention to explore outside investment options.

By the time Ratcliffe’s investment is confirmed, more than a year may have passed since the initial announcement.

A statement issued at the time noted, “As part of this process, the Board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the Company.”

“This will include an assessment of several initiatives to strengthen the club, including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, and expansion of the club’s commercial operations on a global scale, each in the context of enhancing the long-term success of the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams, and bringing benefits to fans and other stakeholders.”

Manchester United performance and stats

Manchester United is currently 8th in the Premier League with 15 points.

In the last 10 games, it has won 5 times and lost 5 times. In its last match, Manchester United lost 0-3 against Manchester City.​​

It has a negative goal difference after scoring 11 goals and conceding 16.​

Manchester United will play the next match in Premier League against Fulham on Saturday 4th of November in London. The prediction is Manchester United winning the match.​