HARRODS is the width of a couple of goalframes away from the entrance to the Ineos office. Expensive and tasteful art adorns the walls at reception and at 1.40 pm on a drizzly Wednesday afternoon, we are led up to the first floor.
Office space revolves around a plush open kitchen and Sir Dave Brailsford is on a Zoom call in one office. Sir Jim Ratcliffe later jokes 'he's listening through the wall.
We are escorted into a briefing room with 15 leather-bound office chairs placed around the rectangular table. What immediately catches the eye is a mannequin with a resplendent red shirt bearing the number '7' pulled over it.
The collar is pulled up. "I think that is Eric's shirt, actually," Ratcliffe quips.
It is the United home shirt between 1998-2000 - the Treblewinning shirt with the retro Umbro lining on the sleeves and a zip. Cantona only pulled it on once - in a Munich memorial testimonial in August 1998. It is a rare collectible Ratcliffe has no intention of donating to Classic Football Shirts.
"He was a maverick, obviously," Ratcliffe says. "He was the catalyst for change in Ferguson's era, wasn't he? And then that sort of kickstarted everything off. He was the sort of talisman." Laid out on a nearby tabletop is the United Review programme from Cantona's debut against Manchester City in November 1992, programmes from the 1968 European Cup final, the 1999 and 2008 Champions League finals, as well as the triumphant European Cup Winners' Cup final in 1991. A neatly folded Royal blue scarf bearing the Manchester coat of arms, with 'European Champions 1968' emblazoned on it, nestles next to the mementoes.
They are removed when Ineos officials are waiting for the final journalists to finish filing their copy.
In time, Ratcliffe will hope to permanently display contemporary United shirts synonymous with success.
Denne historien er fra February 23, 2024-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February 23, 2024-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Ten Hag future remains in doubt as state-of-play meet comes to end
INEOS GATHERING IN LONDON CONCLUDES WITHOUT ANY STATEMENT
'The tribunal found that it was wrong. This is a big deal in competition law'
THE Premier League came unstuck against City in their opening submission of the hearing into Associated Party Transaction Rules.
Godfather of AI wins Nobel Prize for Physics
A BRITISH-CANADIAN computer scientist who has been dubbed the \"godfather of artificial intelligence\" has won this year's Nobel Prize for Physics.
Chancellor urged to quash ‘damaging' pension rumours
FTSE 250 savings and investment platform AJ Bell has joined the growing chorus urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to back down from a proposed tax hit on UK pensioners, warning that rumours of the government's tax intentions are \"hugely damaging\" and are causing widespread concern long-term savings.
Red paint attack on office block
A PRO-PALESTINE group says it targeted an office block in Manchester city centre housing insurance firm Allianz.
Star 'in pain every day' in his fight with arthritis
ADAM Thomas has told fans how he's 'in pain every day' as he gave a candid update from his latest trip to the hospital.
I was in tears when the police returned my XL Bully
OWNER SAYS DOG WAS LEFT IN 'BAD STATE' AFTER BEING SEIZED
Student cop was 'bullied' claims dad
INQUEST TOLD TRAINEE HAD NIGHTMARES ABOUT BOSS 'TRYING TO STRANGLE HIM'
From Pretty Green to pretty vacant
PRETTY Green, the fashion brand founded by Liam Gallagher, has announced its flagship Manchester store has closed with immediate effect.
Dozens of 'late-stage' terror plots foiled since Arena bomb
THE security services have foiled 43 'late-stage' terror plots since March 2017 as new threats emerge from hostile nations such as Russia and China and a 'resurgent' Islamic State.
