
There's a huge elephant in the room that Sir Jim Ratcliffe didn't address in the £2billion Man United stadium unveiling - and he will need to be Harry Houdini to make it work, writes SIMON JORDAN
Daily MailJoin Mail+ to read Simon Jordan's unmissable column every Wednesday, plus more of your favourite writers, exclusive stories and in-depth sports reporting I'll always listen to a man who has made billions, but one thing didn't quite add up when I was listening to him unveiling the shiny new stadium Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s achievements dwarf mine so maybe I shouldn’t be questioning him, but it’s beyond me how he squares the circle for all his bold statements regarding Manchester United to come true. As I suspected, this week’s glossy 'unveiling' of a 100,000-seat New Trafford was what the stadium would look like, rather than someone putting up their hand up to explain funding Cut it however you want, the likelihood is of more significant debt being loaded onto Manchester United before they can monetise the stadium when it opens It’s the building of a shiny new cathedral and every nook and cranny will be designed to bring in money Surely the project won’t work if United finish mid-table every year until the stadium is completed Any proper United needs a great team to match the bricks, mortar and 'umbrella' of a world-class arena Sir Jim knows United have a slick commercial engine – one Glazer success! Ratcliffe is a man of great substance but how he engineers a turnaround in fortunes in the next three years is unclear Addressing the Glazer-invoked debt situation would be a good initiative, perhaps that will find its way into an overall refinancing package with the stadium I assume United will seek some preferential debt borrowing, perhaps cheap Government money indexed to the aforementioned regeneration initiative, as United are apparently so pivotal to that! United need to do more than rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic if they are going to fulfil Ratcliffe's bet that they are Britain’s wealthiest club by 2028 Remarkably, United still generate £600m when they are achieving comparatively nothing on the field and the brand is being diminished How Sir Jim plans to make this all happen is an important detail he missed out during this recent burst of preferred accessibility We can’t have people like Stuart Pearce unwell - what chance have the rest of us got!
History of this topic

Man United's £2billion super stadium plans thrown into DOUBT - as industry insiders call into question Sir Jim Ratcliffe's bold statements
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe insists Manchester United could have gone BUST by Christmas had he not embarked on brutal cuts as co-owner takes aim at six 'overpaid' players in series of interviews
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe holds 'robust' talks with Manchester United fans over ticket prices after the Ineos chief warned of the need to raise funds amid the club's financial issues
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues to cut costs at Man United as unpopular co-owner SLASHES wages of three Old Trafford legends in latest exercise to save money while his side languish in 13th
Daily Mail
Man United fan group SLAMS Sir Jim Ratcliffe as they insist the billionaire's cost-cutting measures are an 'affront on the working-class foundations' the club was built on
Daily Mail
Full timeline of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United cost-cutting as £23billion tycoon ends charity donations to ex-stars
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe increases stake in Manchester United despite conflict with supporters
The Independent
Jim Ratcliffe makes alarming admission over ‘mediocre’ Man Utd and plan to transform club
The Independent
SIMON JORDAN: Why Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Man United cabal desperately need Ruben Amorim appointment to succeed
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has watched Man United burn, ridding himself of little people while Erik ten Hag cost them hundreds of millions. There is not a lot further to fall, writes OLIVER HOLT
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe gathers Man United chiefs - and Gary Neville - at Old Trafford for talks, with under-pressure Erik ten Hag's future and a new £2BILLION stadium on the agenda as Thomas Tuchel waits i
Daily Mail
Man United 'hold talks over selling Old Trafford naming rights' as Sir Jim Ratcliffe seeks funding for his bold £2billion 'Wembley of the North' project
Daily Mail
Man United look a mess under Erik ten Hag - but Sir Jim Ratcliffe is right not to sack him, explains IAN LADYMAN
Daily Mail
Man United's non-football staff are ALL given just one week to decide on redundancy offer as Sir Jim Ratcliffe makes dramatic move to cut costs following INEOS' part-takeover
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues Manchester United clearout as more senior figures depart
The Independent
Manchester United assembling notable figures to plan 'world class' stadium
Hindustan Times
Sir Jim Ratcliffe to sanction significant Man United transfer spend this summer as financial restrictions ease with THREE positions targeted… and they could sell a number of high-profile stars
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe outlines plans for success and glamour at Manchester United
The Independent
Mason Greenwood could make shock Manchester United return, hints Sir Jim Ratcliffe
The Independent
Sir Jim Ratcliffe admits Old Trafford is 'TIRED and in need of refurbishment'... as the new Man United part-owner outlines his plan to transform the decaying 74,000-seater stadium into a 'Wembley of t
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe outlines his plan to revive Manchester United
The Telegraph
Sir Jim Ratcliffe COMPLETES £1.3bn deal to become a Manchester United co-owner: INEOS finally get purchase of 27.7% stake over the line after FA and Premier League give deal green light
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe shares Manchester United priority to ‘ruthlessly focus’ on winning
The Independent
Ratcliffe will value trophies ahead of cash at Man United
The Hindu
'No Question About That': Boyhood Manchester United Fan Jim Ratcliffe Terms Invest in Club Most Exciting
News 18
Sir Jim Ratcliffe opens up on emotion of buying into boyhood club Manchester United
The Independent
Get the right players in (and the wrong ones out), FINALLY fix Old Trafford's leaky roof, trust in youth and get ruthless with Erik ten Hag... Mail Sport's experts identify outline what Sir Jim Ratcli
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrives at Man United for the first time since his £1.3bn investment in the club, as he prepares to meet Erik ten Hag and the players THIS WEEK
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will have no honeymoon as he faces urgent problems at Man United
The Independent
Sir Jim Ratcliffe vows to get Manchester United ‘back where we belong’ after purchase confirmed
The Independent
Sir Jim Ratcliffe finally completes Manchester United minority takeover
The Independent
Sir Jim Ratcliffe COMPLETES buy-out of Manchester United stake as his £1.3BILLION deal with the Glazer family for 25 per cent ownership is confirmed - with British billionaire to control football oper
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe handed football reins at Man Utd after £1.03bn deal
The Telegraph
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's proposed £245M infrastructure investment 'will not touch the sides' in Old Trafford revamp... as Manchester United prepares to announce billionaire's investment in the next fortnig
Daily Mail
How Sir Jim Ratcliffe can reshape Man Utd by addressing pivotal issue
The Independent
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will 'get to play Football Manager with the biggest club in the country' after his £1.4billion arrival at Man United, says Mike Keegan on It's All Kicking Off... but fans should NOT
Daily Mail
It's already one-nil to Sir Jim Ratcliffe for just turning up in Manchester United takeover bid
The Telegraph
Man United fans react as billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe confirms interest in buying the club
Daily Mail
Manchester United takeover: Sir Jim Ratcliffe confirms he's bidding to buy club
Daily Mail
Man United: Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'gets silent treatment' from Glazers after takeover admission
Daily Mail
MARTIN SAMUEL: Why would Sir Jim Ratcliffe get involved in Manchester United?
Daily Mail
Who is Sir Jim Ratcliffe? What Man United fans can expect if billionaire takes over
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe slams Manchester United's 'poor' manager selection and blasts 'players like Fred'
Daily Mail
Sir Jim Ratcliffe announces he wants to BUY a stake in Manchester United
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