Sir Jim Ratcliffe changes his stance with Michael Carrick before Man Utd decision made

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Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe seems to have altered his stance towards Michael Carrick , compared to previous United managers under his ownership. Carrick has revealed 'chats' between the pair ahead of the summer.

The ex- United midfielder returned to Old Trafford on an interim basis back in January. His appointment has triggered an improvement in United's form, prompting demands for him to secure the role permanently in the summer.

That final verdict will be partly down to Ratcliffe, with Carrick the third manager in post since his takeover of the club in early 2024. Much could hinge on the relationship between the two.

Speaking ahead of the Premier League fixture against Brentford, Carrick offered an insight into that : "He came in. We had a chat. We had a cup of tea," he said. "Casual chat, to be honest, it was nice to see him showing his support, obviously. That was it. It was quite informal, but it was nice to see him. I think as a football club we're hugely connected all the way through."

It indicates that Ratcliffe's relationship with Carrick differs somewhat from those with United's two preceding managers. Speaking to Dutch outlet AD during the summer, Erik ten Hag discussed his own dynamic with Ratcliffe, particularly amid doubts surrounding his position in the summer of 2024.

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"The communication did fall away, yes," he said. "But I just celebrated holidays with my loved ones, and I let things come to me. I have no influence on that anyway."

Reflecting on a discussion that occurred in Ibiza. "They didn't say, 'We still want to go on,' but, 'We want to go on,' he said.

"The argument they gave was in a short summary: we looked at everything and put it next to each other, but we think we already have the best manager in-house.

"Then I said, 'Then we have to discuss a number of things, about how we interact with each other and work together.' We had a good, honest, but also confrontational conversation about that. As it should be at the top."

Ten Hag departed the club merely months afterwards, following a string of poor results. He was succeeded by Ruben Amorim.

Ratcliffe had previously opened up about his connection with Amorim, with the Portuguese manager unafraid to speak bluntly to the United co-owner.

"I really, really like Ruben," he told the Times in March last year. "Every time I go to the training ground, I sit down and have a cup of coffee with him and tell him where it's going wrong, and he tells me to f*** off. I like him. Give the guy a break."

It appears the rapport with Carrick is considerably warmer, which could bode well for the former midfielder.

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