SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has been caught in a blunder after asking the Manchester United women's captain, "What do you do here?". The club minority owner was taken on a tour of the women's facilities and encountered the former captain, Katie Zelem. Ratcliffe, 72, met Zelem at Carrington after investing in the Red Devils.
![[Sir Jim Ratcliffe at a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/sir-jim-ratcliffe-looks-ahead-914046278.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Like Ratcliffe, the midfielder was born in Failsworth near Oldham and has been at the club since the age of 8. The Telegraph have now claimed that the billionaire was unsure of the ace and was unaware of her role during the tour. The report suggests that he even asked the ace what she did at the club during the tour.
![[Sir Jim Ratcliffe of INEOS meeting with Manchester United Women players in a gymnasium.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/sir-jim-ratcliffe-ineos-meets-869872482.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Zelem, 29, left Manchester United last summer and joined Los Angeles based side Angel City. She had made 161 appearances for the Red Devils during her time with the club. Zelem has also earned 12 caps for the Lionesses since 2021. She did leave the club between 2013 and 2018 for spells at Liverpool and Juventus.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS. It comes as Ratcliffe has often been criticised for lacking interest in the woman's side of the club. Last May he opted to watch the men's side face Arsenal at Old Trafford instead of the Women's FA Cup final victory over Tottenham.
They won the final 4-0 at Wembley Stadium to lift the FA Cup for the very first time. He was criticised for his apparent lack of interest and calling the men's team the "first team". England star Mary Earps appeared to take a swipe at Ratcliffe when she left the club last summer.
The axing of Dan Ashworth was also seen as a blow as the sporting director was said to be "passionate" about the women's team. It has also been claimed that Ratcliffe did not speak to Ashworth about the women's team even once before his sacking. SIR JIM RATCLIFFE'S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 - and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since...
December 2023 - Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe's takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old Trafford. January 2024 - Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington. January 2024 - Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO.
February 2024 - Ratcliffe's £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed. February 2024 - Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin added. March 2024 - Ratcliffe bans words "awesome" and "lukewarm cappuccino" in bizarre move.
March 2024 - Matt Johnson appointed head of women's football. March 2024 - Ratcliffe announces plans to build "Wembley of the North" to replace Old Trafford. March 2024 - Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 - down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in December.
April 2024 - Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled. April 2024 - John Murtough quits as football director. April 2024 - Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton. May 2024 - Ratcliffe turns Carrington "toxic" after sending email to employees slamming "disgraceful" lack of cleanliness.
May 2024 - Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof. May 2024 - Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish. May 2024 - Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy. May 2024 - Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticket.
May 2024 - Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axed. May 2024 - Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of result. June 2024 - Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground.
June 2024 - Ratcliffe introduces strict "back to work" policy forcing staff to come into office. June 2024 - Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women's team. July 2024 - Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensation.
July 2024 - Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026. July 2024 - Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher's role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.
July 2024 - Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment. July 2024 - Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board. July 2024 - Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125. July 2024 - Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie.
August 2024 - Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window. August 2024 - Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toilet. October 2024 - Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex Ferguson. October 2024 - Staff Christmas party cancelled.
