Sir Jim Ratcliffe doesn’t mince his words, that’s for sure.
On Monday, the Manchester United part-owner dropped a verbal bullet which will have sent shivers down the spines of five players in particular.
After listing Antony, Casemiro, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund, and Jadon Sancho as ‘things from the past’ and ‘inherited’ players, he admitted that some stars in the squad are ‘not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’. He later added Lisandro Martinez to that list of players.
In other words: see you later. To some players, anyway. Ratcliffe has been transparent that he sees Man United as a rebuilding project – quite literally in the case of Old Trafford – and you would never expect every sailor to stay on the boat throughout the storm.
But it was blatant, even rash, for the club’s owner to bodycheck individual players in his interview with BBC Sport. The fact it was done in such a cool, calculated way only made it more chilling.
With that in mind, Mail Sport takes a look at each of the five players and asks: what does it mean for them?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe brutally claimed some Man United stars are ‘overpaid’ and ‘not good enough’
Mail Sport assesses the fate of six stars who he named as ‘things from the past’ and ‘inherited’
Andre Onana
Onana may have dropped his marmalade when he tuned in to Ratcliffe’s explosive interview with Dan Roan. Me?
He was one of the more surprising names on the list. Not that any of the names were a gigantic surprise. Criticism of Onana has intensified in recent times as his series of clangers has continued – Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Viktoria Plzen, and Ipswich have all benefited.
But there is still a sense that, if he can find consistency, the former Champions League finalist and Serie A winner can be a top goalkeeper.
Last week he showed it. He kept United in their Europa League last 16 tie against Real Sociedad with late saves to deny Brais Mendez and Orri Oskarsson, then made multiple important saves to hold on to a draw against Arsenal.
Fans certainly wouldn’t throw the Cameroonian in the ‘bad egg’ camp. Nor is he thought to be one of the first-team’s highest earners, taking home a relatively modest £120,000 per week.
Mail Sport’s Chris Wheeler wrote on Monday how United should be grateful that Onana is a resilient character who, despite his mistakes and the physical demands placed on him, has not downed tools.
Whether he has many months left to deploy those tools is another matter. Ruben Amorim has publicly backed him and reportedly Onana wants to stay, but United could move for another custodian in the summer should they find the cash.
Andre Onana has come in for heavy criticism but his potential as a shot-stopper is clear
A series of high-profile errors since his move from Inter Milan has not helped his case
Rasmus Hojlund
Ah, the eternal Hojlund Conundrum. There are few players who United fans would more like to see do well, but patience is thinning out.
The Great Dane has gone 20 games without a goal. Perhaps 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital really could get a game, as Amorim suggested earlier this season.
Hojlund will be the first to admit he needs to improve – 23 goals in 80 games is below what is expected of a Manchester United striker – but time is on his side. He’s only 22.
There’s also no doubting Hojlund’s application. Wayne Rooney recently spoke of his admiration for his work ethic and believes it’s only a matter of time until the goals start flowing.
He also highlighted a lack of service to the striker and that much is true. Diogo Dalot wasted a perfect chance to play Hojlund in for an almost certain goal against Real Sociedad on Thursday, something which Paul Scholes branded ‘criminal’.
Would United recoup anywhere near the £72m they paid for him two summers ago? No, not unless they somehow pull another club’s pants down. Bring in an experienced starter and let him mentor Hojlund, like he had at Atalanta.
Rasmus Hojlund has gone 20 games without a goal but has not received great service
Antony
Would Antony have been bothered by Ratcliffe’s comments? Judging by how much he is loving life in Spain, probably not.
The Dutchman has been rejuvenated at Real Betis, who are covering 84 per cent of his salary, making a permanent move look within reach.
Antony has already won three man of the match awards on loan with Betis, scoring three goals and making three assists in nine games. What’s more, at the rate they’re winning, Los Verdiblancos are an outside shout for Champions League football.
The club’s CEO, Ramon Alarcon, claims that ‘Antony told me that he wanted to stay another year,’ he said. ‘The player is very comfortable here and was surprised by the facilities we gave him to settle in the city as soon as he arrived.’
How refreshing a change of scene has been. Antony looks like a player reborn. He’s even been tipped for a return to the Brazilian national team, two years after his last cap.
On that basis, why would he care what Ratcliffe thinks of him? The sooner he seals a permanent exit from Old Trafford, the better – especially after the departure of his old ally Erik ten Hag.
Antony may not care for Ratcliffe’s opinion on him because he is thriving at Real Betis
Jadon Sancho
Sancho is the biggest enigma on this list, as a player. After failing to find his feet at Manchester United and falling out with Erik ten Hag, he stunned back on loan at Borussia Dortmund in the second half of last season, reaching the Champions League final.
This season has been a tale of two halves. Delighted to be back in his home city, he hit the ground running at Chelsea, with one genius dummy leading to an assist for Cole Palmer in his early days.
But the productivity has dried up. In Enzo Maresca’s system, the wingers are often left to do a lot of attacking work on their own, and that has made things difficult.
Sancho could well end up staying with United beyond the summer, believe it or not. Chelsea have an obligation to buy him if they finish 14th or higher, but the Blues could pull out of the deal at a significant financial penalty, Mail Sport has learned.
What is clear is that if he does stay, it will only be after atonement. He caused a storm when he posted that Marcus Rashford’s move to Aston Villa represented ‘freedom’ – Mail Sport revealed that even Rashford himself did not appreciate that.
His public spat with Ten Hag disturbed the peace and saw him banished from training. He left the players’ WhatsApp group chat some time ago. Healing is required.
Jadon Sancho has a long way back to gaining fans’ trust at Manchester United after falling out with Erik ten Hag and calling Marcus Rashford’s exit on loan to Aston Villa a ‘freedom’
Casemiro
How many of you envision Casemiro being a Manchester United player beyond this summer? Anyone? No takers?
Let’s start with a very respectful statement, and one which isn’t acknowledged enough: Casemiro is one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. There is a case for arguing he was the foremost number six of this era while he was at Real Madrid.
There are still flashes of that brilliance. He set a record for this season on Sunday with his nine successful tackles against Arsenal. ‘Unc still got it,’ wrote one observer.
But Unc is no spring chicken. At 33, it is increasingly difficult for him to operate under the demands of a two-man central midfield, and his performances do not justify his £375,00-per-week wages.
If not Casemiro, then, who else was Ratcliffe referencing when he mentioned ‘overpaid’ players? The Brazilian has insisted he would be happy to see out his contract, but not in a bit-part role.
With Amorim hoping to overhaul his squad, Casemiro’s days look strictly numbered.
Casemiro looks one of the most likely players to leave the club due to his extreme wages
Lisandro Martinez
Ah, poor Martinez. In his third season at Old Trafford, he is already on his sixth injury.
Since his £56.7million move from Ajax in 2022, he has also had two operations on his foot and has appeared in 58 of 100 Premier League matches.
This time, it’s a torn ACL, and it could see him sidelined until 2026.
The Argentinian has had surgery and opened up on the ‘sadness and helplessness’ he felt after tearing his ACL.
Hearing Ratcliffe’s comments may only have added to the sadness and helplessness. Or at least confusion. When he is fit, Martinez is one of the club’s best performers.
At least he knows he likely won’t be sold in the summer, unless he makes an incredible recovery to pass a medical.
