Glazers clash with INEOS over Mauricio Pochettino appointment

Manchester United’s decision to appoint Mauricio Pochettino has exposed a disagreement between the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS over the club’s next manager.

United are undergoing another major restructuring following Michael Carrick’s dismissal on Thursday, with six members of the first-team coaching setup departing Old Trafford.

The former midfielder was relieved of his duties after a disastrous start to the English Premier League campaign, with The Red Devils sitting 18th in the table after winning just one of their opening ten league matches.

Mauricio Pochettino has since emerged as Carrick’s successor in waiting, with an agreement in principle reached to bring the Argentine to Manchester.

However, the circumstances surrounding his appointment have raised fresh questions about who is ultimately making the major footballing decisions at Old Trafford.

When Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired his minority stake in United in February 2024, INEOS assumed responsibility for the club’s football operations, while the Glazer family retained majority ownership.

That arrangement was intended to give Ratcliffe’s team control over sporting decisions, including managerial appointments and recruitment.

But the latest developments suggest the Glazers have taken a much more prominent role in selecting Michael Carrick’s replacement than many supporters might have expected.

According to the Daily Mail, the Glazer family drove United’s pursuit of Mauricio Pochettino despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe favouring former Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe for the position.

The report claims that discussions with Pochettino began at ownership level in October, several weeks before Carrick’s dismissal.

United’s board subsequently approved the Argentine’s appointment on Tuesday, with director of football Jason Wilcox becoming involved in the negotiations as the process progressed.

The INEOS team, consisting of Ratcliffe, Berrada and Wilcox, are understood to have supported Howe as an alternative candidate, but the Newcastle manager was not formally interviewed for the position.

Instead, the Glazers’ said no to Howe as an option, insisted on Mauricio Pochettino as their top choice, with Ratcliffe and his men ultimately falling in line with that view.

Daily Mail’s report states that Joel and Avram Glazer have been pushing for the appointment of Pochettino for weeks.

The development is particularly significant given the considerable authority INEOS were granted over United’s football operations following their investment.

Ratcliffe has overseen several managerial changes during his time at the club, including the departures of Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim and now Carrick.

The latest appointment therefore represents another major decision for a leadership structure that has faced increasing scrutiny over its handling of football matters.

Mauricio Pochettino is expected to take charge following the conclusion of his international commitments with the United States national team, with his first match expected to be the Premier League fixture against Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.

Although Sir Jim Ratcliffe ultimately endorsed the decision, the reported disagreement over Howe and Pochettino suggests that the Glazer family remain influential in major sporting decisions despite INEOS’s responsibility for football operations.

With another managerial appointment now being finalised, the circumstances surrounding Pochettino’s arrival have brought Manchester United’s complicated ownership arrangement back into focus.