Richard Arnold is expected to leave his role as Manchester United chief executive in the event Sir Jim Ratcliffe succeeds in his bid for a minority stake.
Arnold has held the position since taking over from Ed Woodward in February 2022. However, with the club’s board set to vote on selling a 25 per cent share in the club to British billionaire Ratcliffe, Arnold’s future has been discussed.
Ratcliffe wants sporting control for his proposed £1.3billion investment and part of his plan is to shake up the club structure. While not technically a football decision, Arnold understands his departure would be likely in that scenario. The exact timeline for his exit should a deal go through remains unclear, though.
Given the complexities of Ratcliffe’s bid, the process could yet take several weeks and in that period Arnold will continue to lead the club.
Predecessor Woodward left United nine months after announcing his departure following the collapse of the European Super League in April 2021.
Jean-Claude Blanc, the former Juventus chief executive who left a high-ranking role at Paris Saint-Germain last December to oversee the entire INEOS Sport portfolio, is under consideration to replace Arnold, at least in the interim.
GO DEEPER
This is Richard Arnold - the man tasked with rebuilding Manchester United
A United spokesperson said: “We do not comment on speculation.” Club sources insisted Arnold’s departure is not certain, especially given Ratcliffe must first complete his minority bid.
Arnold has been with United since 2007, playing a major role in the club’s commercial growth, before rising to the role of chief executive following Woodward’s exit as executive vice-chairman 20 months ago.
Arnold was the public face of the decision to ultimately opt against Mason Greenwood returning to the first team this summer, but only after The Athletic reported he had communicated to the club’s leadership team the call had been made to bring him back earlier in August.
GO DEEPER
Mason Greenwood and Manchester United: The U-turn - what happened and why
Following a backlash from politicians, charities and supporters the club reversed their decision before Greenwood joined Spanish side Getafe on the final day of the summer transfer window.
Arnold has made United a more Manchester-centric club. He works out of Old Trafford, whereas Woodward’s office was in London, and has empowered directors beneath him, notably John Murtough, United’s first football director who is based at Carrington.
He has been a major part of the club’s commercial growth and attempts to strengthen lines of communication with supporters.
Ratcliffe is set to bring Sir David Brailsford, formerly the performance director at British Cyling, into United and the pair are also weighing up options for a sporting director appointment.
The news of Ratcliffe’s proposed investment follows a protracted process to buy the Premier League club from the Glazer family, who put it on the market last November.
It had been a two-horse contest between Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim before the Qatari group withdrew from the race earlier this month.
GO DEEPER
Explained: Man Utd to vote on selling minority stake to Sir Jim Ratcliffe as Qataris pull out
(Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)
Get all-access to exclusive stories.
Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.
