Gary Lineker has delivered a scathing verdict on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's leadership of Manchester United, branding the club's co-owner an unpleasant human being.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, the former England striker congratulated majority owners the Glazer family on finding someone even worse than them to take public criticism.
Lineker claimed that deep structural problems remain at the Old Trafford club despite the arrival of the 73-year-old billionaire in early 2024.
Scathing Verdict on Ownership
"I look at Man United and I see problems coming down from the top," Lineker said during the podcast episode. "I must congratulate the Glazers on finding someone even worse than them that they can blame and getting him in there and getting all the stick: Jim Ratcliffe."
The former England forward added: "I don’t think he’s a particularly pleasant human being and it’s a bit of a shambles of a football club the way it’s being run at the moment. So, well done to the Glazers on that one, deflecting everything away from them!"
Ratcliffe bought a minority stake in the 20-time English champions in February 2024 and took immediate control of football operations. There was initial optimism among supporters following years of stagnation, but that mood has soured significantly after a series of controversial decisions and poor results on the pitch.
The Glazer family, who purchased Manchester United in 2005 through a leveraged takeover, retain a majority financial stake in the club but have largely retreated from public visibility in recent years.
Managerial Turmoil and On-Field Struggles
Turnover in the dugout has continued under Ratcliffe's stewardship, with United already parting company with two permanent managers since he assumed operational control.
Dutch manager Erik ten Hag was sacked in October 2024, just three months after signing a new contract extension. His successor, Ruben Amorim, departed in January after 14 months in charge at Old Trafford.
Former United midfielder Michael Carrick was appointed permanent manager during the summer after an impressive spell as interim boss. Carrick recorded 11 wins and three draws from 16 matches to steer the team back into UEFA Champions League qualification, but momentum stalled following an underwhelming summer transfer window.
United failed to secure key transfer targets, missing out on midfielders Elliot Anderson and Matheus Fernandes. The squad entered the autumn international break sitting 12th in the Premier League table, having collected just five points from their opening five fixtures of the season.
Young Talent Seeking Exit
Frustration with the direction of the club has extended to the youth academy. Highly rated starlet JJ Gabriel, nicknamed "Kid Messi", has requested to leave Manchester United after his family expressed concern that the institution has fallen behind elite European standards.
According to a report by Daily Mail Sport, a source close to the Gabriel family explained that United are currently far away from elite continental clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, as well as domestic rivals Arsenal and Manchester City.
The source stated that the young player's family wants him to learn from the best environment available to maximize his potential, leading to the decision to seek a move away from the academy.
Off-Field Controversies and Fan Anger
Ratcliffe's off-field restructuring has also drawn severe criticism from supporters and staff. The INEOS chairman has overseen mass redundancies among non-playing staff while increasing matchday ticket prices across Old Trafford.
Existing season-ticket holders have also voiced anger after being relocated to make room for additional corporate hospitality seating. Meanwhile, Ratcliffe has outlined plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium to replace Old Trafford.
Supporters staged visible protests against the ownership before and during September's Manchester derby defeat against Manchester City. In addition, several supporters' groups have publicly called on Ratcliffe to resign following recent comments he made regarding immigration.
Addressing the ongoing issues, Lineker highlighted the widespread dysfunction surrounding the club. "It is a bit of a mess, that club," Lineker said. "You've got a ground that's falling apart, all sorts of complaints about various things."
Lineker also noted the potential departure of academy talent and ongoing pitch issues. "They're losing young teenagers, it looks like that is going to happen," he added. "The results, the inconsistency seems to be back. They have backed the manager many times and it’s not worked for them but there’s got to be something dripping down from the top."
Ratcliffe Warning Over Fan Abuse
Ratcliffe had previously warned that sustained hostility from supporters could force him to step aside from his role at Old Trafford.
Speaking in March, the billionaire acknowledged fan frustration but indicated there were limits to what he would tolerate if personal criticism escalated to the levels previously directed at the Glazer family.
"I mean, I can put up with it for a while," Ratcliffe said in March. "I don't mind being unpopular because I get that nobody likes seeing Manchester United down where they are, and nobody likes the decisions we're having to make at the moment."
"If I draw a bit of the ire, I can put up with that. But I'm no different to the average person. It's not nice, particularly for friends and family," Ratcliffe added.
"So, eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I'd have to say, look, enough's enough guys, let somebody else do this. They can't really come to a match, the Glazers. They've retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I'm getting all the stick."
