October 26, (THEWILL) – Manchester United’s chief executive, Richard Arnold, is anticipated to depart his role if Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bid for a minority stake in the club succeeds. Arnold has held the position since replacing Ed Woodward in February 2022. However, Ratcliffe wants sporting control as part of his proposed £1.3 billion investment, which would likely see Arnold leave.
Arnold understands his exit would be probable if Ratcliffe gains a 25% share in the club, which the board is set to vote on. The exact timeline remains unclear, with the process potentially taking weeks, meaning Arnold may continue in his post temporarily.
Jean-Claude Blanc, the former Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain chief executive is reportedly being considered as an interim replacement for Arnold. Although the club spokesperson has not officially commented on the speculation, Arnold’s departure is reportedly not guaranteed as Ratcliffe must still complete his minority bid first.
Arnold has been effective at United since 2007, overseeing commercial growth, before becoming chief executive after Woodward’s exit as executive vice-chairman in 2021. He aimed to make United more Manchester-focused during his tenure.
Ratcliffe’s proposed investment follows United being put up for sale by the Glazer family last November. Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim were the leading bidders before the Qatari group recently withdrew, allowing the British billionaire to become the sole bidder.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
