Has Jim Ratcliffe just cocked up? - Advantage Newcastle

Speaking to the media yesterday, Jim Ratcliffe took questions on all things Manchester United.

His comments on Mason Greenwood were pretty sickening – it seems he’ll offer an olive branch to the disgraced forward if he proves himself to be a “good guy” (it takes one watch of those vile recordings to realise he isn’t) – but his comments on Newcastle United and pursuit of Dan Ashworth hit the headlines on Tyneside.

What Jim thinks behind closed doors is up to him, but it seemed such a naive move to lay his cards on the table so publicly. Calling the period of gardening leave “absurd”, suggesting Newcastle are being “stupid” and calling Ashworth a “10/10 director” he’s clearly so desperate to have only strengthens our negotiating hand.

He’s made it so, so clear that he’s irritated, he’s using the media to back us into a corner (which won’t work and will only anger us even further) and it’s obvious how desperate he is to have Ashworth at Old Trafford well before his gardening leave ends in January 2026.

Considering Man Utd waited so long to make a formal approach – which created months of unsettling rumours and left so many at Newcastle second-guessing Ashworth’s intentions – coupled with the fact they are now a top-six rival and attempting to poach a recent recruit and key member of staff who is currently under contract, they aren’t in a position to call the shots. Either they pay up or shut up and wait until 2026.

It’s been widely reported that Newcastle were left ‘furious’ and ‘angered’ by Man Utd’s conduct over the past few months, yet Ratcliffe’s inflammatory comments yesterday which clearly belittled our stance (which we have every right to have) will only leave us less likely to strike a compromise.

In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised at this point if we upped our asking price or refused to do do business entirely until 2026. I mean, Man Utd had no interest in doing us favours when quoting a £16.5m loan package for Jesse Lingard two years ago…

Jim thinks this no-nonsense approach will show the might of Man Utd and force us to buckle. In reality, it’s just the sort of arrogance and entitlement that makes him a perfect match for that club.

We should’ve expected nothing less from a tax dodger who wants tax payers money to build him a new stadium.