Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'questioned Man Utd's Casemiro deal when touring Carrington'

Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly questioned Manchester United's decision to sign Casemiro - and now it has emerged that club insiders did the same before they bought him.

Chemicals powerhouse Ratcliffe, whose £1.25billion deal for a 25 per cent stake in the club is close to being confirmed, challenged the move while touring the club's Carrington training centre in March.

Manchester United sealed a £60million plunge for Casemiro in August 2022, prising him away from Real Madrid with a four-year contract and ambitious talk.

Mail Sport reported in October that Ratcliffe singled out Casemiro, now 31, as an example of questionable recruitment.

However, The Athletic have deepened the story by suggesting that some United employees preferred Declan Rice on financial grounds, adding precious context to Ratcliffe's concerns.

They cite Casemiro's £350,000-per-week wages as one sticking point, as Rice could have been on much less. Mail Sport understands that he earns £250,000 per week at Arsenal.

While Rice could have cost up to £120m - Arsenal paid £105m for him - that fee could have been spread out over a longer contract to help United comply with Financial Fair Play rules.

Crucially, Rice was only 23 in the summer of 2022 and will have immense potential resale value for years to come.

That's especially relevant as Mail Sport exclusively revealed that John Murtough, United's transfer chief, flew to Saudi Arabia earlier this month to discuss selling Casemiro.

Murtough met with Saudi Pro League chiefs in Riyadh to chew over possible deals for Casemiro, Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho, and Anthony Martial.

If Ratcliffe was against signing a player of Casemiro's profile, and there is backing at the club for a different policy, then that could indicate the direction in which he will steer the club.

United's transfer in recent years have been pinned on two major approaches: either signing a European veteran with immense pedigree but questions over their age, or young, often unproven talent from abroad for stratospheric fees.

Antony was signed last summer for £85m, despite club scouts initially placing a £25m value on him.

Mail Sport exclusively revealed that Ratcliffe would seek to prioritise homegrown talent to help fire United back to the summit of the game.

Considering The Athletic's latest report, Ratcliffe will be stepping in to a club with competing voices regarding transfer policy and will have to be assertive.

His 25 per cent investment in the game will put him in charge of sporting operations, and INEOS' director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford will play an influential role.