Trawlers Limited, the company owned by Ratcliffe that is acquiring up to 29 percent of United, is a reference to Cantona's immortal 'seagulls' sermon in 1995.
What do you get for a man worth nearly £30bn on his 70th birthday? A recorded message from his hero.
Ratcliffe was surprised when Cantona appeared in a clip that included well-wishes from Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham.
Cantona is topical. Earlier this month, United went four games without scoring for the first time since November 1992 and they resolved to address that famine by signing Cantona at the end of the month.
The Christmas Eve timing of the Ineos announcement offered a Biblical illusion though Ratcliffe is not crass enough to liken himself to the deity Cantona. As much of a throwback to the glory days as the uproarious recovery against Aston Villa was, this United is not a catalyst away from ending another championship drought. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are not newsy periods. Waiting a few more days for an announcement that had been in the post for so long a pigeon could have carried it might have piqued United supporters.
"The timing of this is truly awful and no functioning organisation would even think about it," Gary Neville harrumphed. Salford City sacked their manager two days after Christmas.
United's latest filings were released within minutes of the final whistle against Villa, owed to the timing of the New York Stock Exchange's closure at 5 pm (10 pm UK time). That kept the Old Trafford press room fuller as midnight loomed.
The reaction from Reds supporters was hardly going to be seismic.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 28, 2023-Ausgabe von Manchester Evening News.
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Youngster Toby open to Old Trafford January exit
UNITED midfielder Toby Collyer is open to a move to a Championship club this month if a suitable offer emerges.
Even United's 'untouchables' are not safe
SIR Jim Ratcliffe hasn't been afraid of making difficult decisions in his 11 months in charge at Old Trafford, and if a good offer arrives for Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho this month, you can be certain sentimentality won't be priced into the equation.
Young forward recalled from Latics loan move
UNITED have recalled striker Joe Hugill from Wigan Athletic.
Club chiefs ready to play hardball on new contracts
UNITED'S efforts to comply with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules could force them to sell one of their homegrown players.
Josh may not be success, but he deserves respect
REGARDLESS of your opinion of Joshua Zirkzee as a footballer and whether United should have signed him, the chances are you felt sorry for him as he faced a chorus of boos from his own supporters when he was substituted in the first half against Newcastle at Old Trafford last week.
Rash could be feeling pressure of 'being local'
FORMER United winger Lee Sharpe believes the pressures of being a local player could be one of the reasons Marcus Rashford wants to quit Old Trafford.
Frankfurt's message to Txiki: 'Show us the money
YOU know you are trying to buy a player from the Bundesliga when there are quotes from the selling club's executives in the papers every day.
RIO HAPPY WITH DESIRE IN ANFIELD CLASH
UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand has praised the effort and desire the Reds showed in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Liverpool, insisting the players now have an understanding of what Ruben Amorim expects.
Numbers all add up for Omar to make switch
THERE was a moment shortly after Jack Grealish signed for City back in 2021 when he walked into the dressing room at the Etihad Stadium to see his new shirt for the first time.
Striker needed who can make big IMPACT
AT least Ruben Amorim has promised United will 'try to do something. Goals win games and the Reds do not have a goalscorer. They have won two games in nine and scored 11.
