Lineker slams Jim Ratcliffe as 'unpleasant' over Man United

Gary Lineker has called Sir Jim Ratcliffe "not a particularly pleasant human being" and said the Glazers should be congratulated for finding "someone even worse than them" to take the blame at Manchester United.

The former England striker was speaking on The Rest is Football podcast.

"I look at Man United and I see problems coming down from the top," Lineker said. "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!"

Ratcliffe, 73, bought a minority stake of 28.94 per cent in February 2024 and took charge of football operations. Since then United have parted company with two permanent managers. Erik ten Hag was sacked three months after signing a new deal in October 2024. Ruben Amorim left in January after 14 months.

Michael Carrick was made permanent manager in the summer after 11 wins and three draws in 16 matches as interim, which took the club back into the Champions League. On Sunday United needed a late rescue to draw 1-1 at Fulham, who started the day bottom of the table. They are 12th with five points from five games.

Supporters protested against the ownership before and during the Manchester City derby. Ratcliffe was also in the news on Saturday for remarks on immigration, saying "nobody's tough enough to deal with the immigration problem" in the UK. The Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club responded by saying he "must go".

If the results do not improve, this may mean the protests and the pressure on Ratcliffe carry on through the autumn, with Carrick's position tied to a wider argument about how the club is run.