Arsenal legend warns Ten Hag about new Manchester United owner after INEOS boss sacked him in 2020

Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira has spoken about new Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is also the head of the INEOS group that owns Ligue 1 OGC Nice.

Vieira worked with Ratcliffe when he was manager of Nice between 2018 and 2020 and the INEOS group bought the club. 

Ratcliffe’s company became Nice owners in 2019, one year after Vieira became manager of the club, but the Frenchman’s reign at the club ended only one year after INEOS’ takeover, despite helping Les Aiglons to fifth place in Ligue 1. 

Despite the sour end to their relationship, Vieira still had good things to say about Ratcliffe, although he did leave a note of warning to Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag.

Vieira was speaking in an interview with FourFourTwo magazine when he detailed his working relationship with Ratcliffe, saying, “He’d never interfere with my work.”

The former Arsenal captain expatiated, saying, “We’d talk about football when we met, about the team and our lives, but he’s not an owner who will get involved too much and prevent the manager from doing his job.” 

Vieira’s next words sound like a note of warning to Ten Hag, with the World Cup winner recalling an important aspect of working with Ratcliffe, saying, “His ambitions and expectations are high, so you know where you stand, but you can do your job freely.”

After completing a minority takeover of Manchester United, Ratcliffe and his team are expected to take charge of the footballing aspects of the club, meaning that the British businessman will be working closely with Ten Hag and his coaching staff.