Gary Lineker brands Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘unpleasant human’ and says Glazers ‘found someone worse than them’ to run Man Utd

GARY LINEKER has labelled Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe an “unpleasant human being” in a scathing attack. The Ineos owner, 73, bought a minority share of the club in February 2024 and took over the sporting operation from the Glazer family, who remain the majority shareholders. Gary Lineker has labelled Sir Jim Ratcliffe an ‘unpleasant human being’ Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Ratcliffe has been a co-owner of Man Utd since 2024, which has seen the club have some of their worst finishes Credit: PA During his two full seasons at the club United endured their worst-ever Premier League season by finishing 15th, before a third-place finish under interim manager Michael Carrick last term. Former Red Devils star Carrick was then given the job permanently over the summer, but has only managed one win in the league from five games and has already seen them knocked out of the League Cup following a historic defeat to Brighton. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Old Trafford leadership has been criticised for failing to address a number of issues in the squad, while a controversial ticket touting operation led to a fan protest before the Manchester Derby. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, ex-Match of the Day host Lineker gave a scathing assessment of the British billionaire, who has been a tax resident in Monaco since 2020. Former England star Lineker, 65, said: “I look at Man United and I see problems coming down from the top. “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. “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!” Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Ratcliffe’s recent comments declaring he had lost faith in the UK because of high taxes and immigration are likely to have been factors that sparked Lineker’s berating of the petrochemicals tycoon. Those comments also saw Man Utd Muslim supporters’ Club issue a “statement of no confidence” in the club’s ownership, calling for both Ratcliffe and the Glazers – who have presided over United’s decline since buying it in 2005 – to leave. United’s struggles since the Ineos buy-in have seen them sack two permanent managers after they were backed by the new owners. The first of these was Erik ten Hag, who was replaced in October despite summer backing from Ineos after an FA Cup victory the season before. Lineker added Ratcliffe was worse than the Glazers Credit: Alamy Michael Carrick has led United to just one league win this season after club chiefs failed to address defensive problems Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Ruben Amorim came in to replace him and despite initial optimism ended up leading United to their worst-ever Premier League season and lost the Europa League final. He was sacked in January 2026 after criticising the board, rather than for the disastrous results which plagued his time with United. This summer Ineos-appointed United transfer chiefs missed out on all the club’s top targets, including Elliot Anderson – who won Man of the Match for Manchester City in the derby earlier this month – and Mateus Fernandes, as well as Lewis Hall. An even more damning assessment emerged from Carrington with JJ Gabriel asking for his youth contract to be terminated due to the view that United have fallen behind the top sides in Europe, including the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Man City. United laboured to a draw against Fulham in their most recent game, and will have time to lick their wounds during the international break before they host winless Tottenham at home. Man Utd ratings v Fulham Ticket + hotel room for Man Utd games GET tickets to see Man Utd at Old Trafford with our hand-picked deals. The packages include an official match ticket and an overnight stay in a nearby hotel. Man United Home Games⚽ 10 Oct v Tottenham Hotspur — BOOK HERE ⚽ 24 Oct v Bournemouth — BOOK HERE ⚽ 3 Nov v Roma — BOOK HERE ⚽ 7 Nov v Aston Villa — BOOK HERE More games available here. *If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. Comment now