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.
Bu hikaye Manchester Evening News dergisinin February 23, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Manchester Evening News dergisinin February 23, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
16 years for Spain swoop drugs boss
A COCAINE kingpin dragged back from Spain to face justice is serving a lengthy prison sentence.
Police in 'relentless pursuit of gun gangs
THE spectre of gun crime rose again in Manchester this week.
Council chief quits £185k job amid child service fiasco
TOWN HALL TURMOIL AS DEPARTMENT JUDGED INADEQUATE’ AGAIN
Hope rail can get on track
TRANSPORT Secretary Louise Haigh is looking 'very seriously' at how to increase rail investment in the north, according to Greater Manchester MP Lisa Nandy.
The moment I met Sarah I knew we had a bond
DUCHESS JOINS CORRIE STAR TO BECOME PATRON OF PREVENT BREAST CANCER
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.