Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a British billionaire and owner of a 29% stake in Manchester United, has been at the center of controversy following his acquisition of a minority stake in the club in 2024. Ratcliffe took control of football operations from the Glazer family, who had owned the club for over two decades. His rise to prominence in the club’s management has drawn criticism from high-profile figures like former England footballer Gary Lineker, who called Ratcliffe an "unpleasant human being" and criticized the direction of the club. Manchester United has struggled both on and off the pitch in recent years. The club finished 15th in the Premier League during Ratcliffe’s first full season, their worst result in the competition. Head coach Ruben Amorim was dismissed after just over a year in the role, and while Michael Carrick’s interim management last season brought a third-place finish, the team has had a poor start to the current campaign, winning only one of their first five league matches and being eliminated from the Carabao Cup early in the season. Lineker criticized the club’s leadership, stating, “I look at Man United and I see problems coming down from the top.” He added, “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.” He also commented on the club’s internal issues, including the reported desire of young prospect JJ Gabriel to leave the club, with his family feeling United has fallen behind teams like Arsenal and Manchester City under the current ownership. Ratcliffe has faced backlash for plans to build a new stadium to replace Old Trafford, as well as for cutting hundreds of jobs and the treatment of long-term season ticket holders. Fans have protested against the club’s ownership, particularly ahead of and during the September Manchester derby, and supporters groups have called for Ratcliffe’s resignation over recent comments on immigration. Lineker added, “It is a bit of a mess that club. You've got a ground that's falling apart, all sorts of complaints about various things. They’re losing young teenagers, it looks like that [Gabriel leaving] is going to happen. The results, the inconsistency seems to be back.” As the club looks to turn things around, Michael Carrick will have the chance to lead Manchester United to their first win of the season when they face win-less Tottenham on October 10, following a three-week international break.