**Exclusive from The Telegraph’s Football News Correspondent, Matt Law and Sports News Correspondent, Tom Morgan:**
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to take guidance from Sir Alex Ferguson as he prepares to undertake a radical overhaul of Manchester United.
That would be a boost to Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman’s hopes of landing a job at Old Trafford, as the Scotsman is a long-term ally of Ferguson, although Telegraph Sport can reveal that he is not the only sporting director on Ratcliffe’s list.
While Freedman is thought to be admired by Ferguson, it is understood that Atalanta’s Lee Congerton, former AC Milan pair Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara, and Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta are also under consideration.
Jean-Claude Blanc, a leading figure at Ineos Sport, is in the running to replace Richard Arnold as chief executive ahead of Ratcliffe’s imminent purchase of a 25 per cent stake in United.
Ratcliffe wants to drastically improve United’s football operation and sources claim he is expected to lean on legendary Old Trafford manager Ferguson, 81, for advice and guidance over some matters.
That could include helping to choose a new director of football with John Murtough’s position believed to be vulnerable. Freedman used to be a neighbour of Ferguson in Cheshire before taking his current job at Palace in 2017.
Freedman also spent time with Ferguson in his office at Old Trafford in 2011, when he was manager of Palace and Ferguson was still in charge at United.
Other than the pair’s relationship, Freedman’s eye for a deal will have caught Ferguson’s attention, with Palace signing the likes of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise, as well as arranging the loan deal for Conor Gallagher.
United have been in decline since Ferguson’s retirement and using his expertise would certainly be a popular move by Ratcliffe with the club’s fans, who still worship the multiple trophy winner.
Congerton is head of recruitment at Serie A club Atalanta, having held similar roles at Leicester City, Celtic, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion. He was appointed as a youth team coach by Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and also worked for the club as a chief scout.
Maldini and Massara were sacked by AC Milan this summer after reportedly falling out with owner Gary Cardinale. Maldini in particular played a key role in Milan’s signing of England international defender Fikayo Tomori from Chelsea.
Berta has been at Atletico Madrid for 10 years and has been linked with United in the past, having presided over one of the most successful periods in the Spanish club’s history, during which they won La Liga twice, the Europa League and the Super Cup.
Why did fergie retire if he’s just gonna hang about?
He’s still at every game etc.
What’s he being doing this whole time? He’s been a glazer guy all along, he appointed Moyes, backed Ole. His golden touch for management never extended to the boardroom.
Surely they are never going to move on if they, you know, don’t move on
Surely they are never going to move on if they, you know, don’t move on
Great…. everything he has touched since stepping out of the managers box has turned to shit….
When they finally get things right they’re going to expect everyone to congratulate them as the best like they didn’t go through every available combination of setup and transfer possible until it happened, spending hundreds of times more than anyone else.
Hey I’ve seen this one
Bad idea this
He got rid of Magnier and McManus because of his own greed over Rock of Gibraltar which ushered in the Glazer’s, who he has constantly supported.
He brought Moyes in to replace him and supported OGS, he shouldn’t anywhere near the decision making at the club.
He still has contacts at the FA….
Just keep him away from ManU
Yes, he did a lot for ManU
But please let the current manager do his job
Don’t disturb the team anymore.
Please move on Glazer guy.
Unless appoint him back as manager.
Let him do what he does best.
Ronaldo and Giggs incoming!
No wonder they can’t move forward with SAF basically haunting the place, everyone who’s been in since is crushed by that legacy, constantly having him watching over their shoulder.
They need to bring back uncle Ralf to do the job he was hired to do in the first place. He’s been vindictated in everything he said about the squad
Ratcliffe doesn’t own it does he? I thought he’d only bought a minority stake
18 comments
**Exclusive from The Telegraph’s Football News Correspondent, Matt Law and Sports News Correspondent, Tom Morgan:**
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to take guidance from Sir Alex Ferguson as he prepares to undertake a radical overhaul of Manchester United.
That would be a boost to Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman’s hopes of landing a job at Old Trafford, as the Scotsman is a long-term ally of Ferguson, although Telegraph Sport can reveal that he is not the only sporting director on Ratcliffe’s list.
While Freedman is thought to be admired by Ferguson, it is understood that Atalanta’s Lee Congerton, former AC Milan pair Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara, and Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta are also under consideration.
Jean-Claude Blanc, a leading figure at Ineos Sport, is in the running to replace Richard Arnold as chief executive ahead of Ratcliffe’s imminent purchase of a 25 per cent stake in United.
Ratcliffe wants to drastically improve United’s football operation and sources claim he is expected to lean on legendary Old Trafford manager Ferguson, 81, for advice and guidance over some matters.
That could include helping to choose a new director of football with John Murtough’s position believed to be vulnerable. Freedman used to be a neighbour of Ferguson in Cheshire before taking his current job at Palace in 2017.
Freedman also spent time with Ferguson in his office at Old Trafford in 2011, when he was manager of Palace and Ferguson was still in charge at United.
Other than the pair’s relationship, Freedman’s eye for a deal will have caught Ferguson’s attention, with Palace signing the likes of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise, as well as arranging the loan deal for Conor Gallagher.
United have been in decline since Ferguson’s retirement and using his expertise would certainly be a popular move by Ratcliffe with the club’s fans, who still worship the multiple trophy winner.
Congerton is head of recruitment at Serie A club Atalanta, having held similar roles at Leicester City, Celtic, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion. He was appointed as a youth team coach by Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and also worked for the club as a chief scout.
Maldini and Massara were sacked by AC Milan this summer after reportedly falling out with owner Gary Cardinale. Maldini in particular played a key role in Milan’s signing of England international defender Fikayo Tomori from Chelsea.
Berta has been at Atletico Madrid for 10 years and has been linked with United in the past, having presided over one of the most successful periods in the Spanish club’s history, during which they won La Liga twice, the Europa League and the Super Cup.
**Article link ⤵️**
[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/11/16/sir-alex-ferguson-guide-sir-jim-ratcliffe-manchester-united/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/11/16/sir-alex-ferguson-guide-sir-jim-ratcliffe-manchester-united/)
Anyone would succeed if they have SAF blessing it
Thank fuck for that!
Why did fergie retire if he’s just gonna hang about?
He’s still at every game etc.
What’s he being doing this whole time? He’s been a glazer guy all along, he appointed Moyes, backed Ole. His golden touch for management never extended to the boardroom.
Surely they are never going to move on if they, you know, don’t move on
Surely they are never going to move on if they, you know, don’t move on
Great…. everything he has touched since stepping out of the managers box has turned to shit….
When they finally get things right they’re going to expect everyone to congratulate them as the best like they didn’t go through every available combination of setup and transfer possible until it happened, spending hundreds of times more than anyone else.
Hey I’ve seen this one
Bad idea this
He got rid of Magnier and McManus because of his own greed over Rock of Gibraltar which ushered in the Glazer’s, who he has constantly supported.
He brought Moyes in to replace him and supported OGS, he shouldn’t anywhere near the decision making at the club.
He still has contacts at the FA….
Just keep him away from ManU
Yes, he did a lot for ManU
But please let the current manager do his job
Don’t disturb the team anymore.
Please move on Glazer guy.
Unless appoint him back as manager.
Let him do what he does best.
Ronaldo and Giggs incoming!
No wonder they can’t move forward with SAF basically haunting the place, everyone who’s been in since is crushed by that legacy, constantly having him watching over their shoulder.
They need to bring back uncle Ralf to do the job he was hired to do in the first place. He’s been vindictated in everything he said about the squad
Ratcliffe doesn’t own it does he? I thought he’d only bought a minority stake