Sir Jim Ratcliffe uses company named after favourite former Red Devils player

Manchester United's new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed his £1.3bn deal to takeover the club using a company named after his favourite player.

Ratcliffe's INEOS group completed the deal for 25 per cent of the club at the beginning of December, after seeing off competition from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The deal sees him take control of football operations including everything on the pitch, signings, and the hiring and firing managers and football staff.

However it is now expected to take around four to six weeks before approval is given by the necessary parties including the Premier League.

It has now been revealed that the British billionaire and 'lifelong' United supporter completed the deal through his company Trawlers Limited.

Trawlers Limited is a company registered under the laws of Isle of Man, and is completely owned by the 71-year-old businessman after being set up in Otober.

And the name is a reference to iconic French striker and United legend Eric Cantona.

Cantona represented United 182 times scoring 82 goals, after joining from rivals Leeds in 1992.

He won four Premier League titles in five years and two League and FA Cup Doubles, finishing his career in Manchester.

The reference linking Cantona to Trawlers comes from a 1995 press conference after 'Le Roi' kung-fu kicked a Crystal Palace supporter in the crowd.

Cantona recieved an eight month ban and was sentenced to 120 hours of community service for the assault.

Speaking at the press conference the Frenchman said: 'When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much.'

Cantona walked out of the conference after saying these words, leaving a bemused room in his wake.

He was recalled to United's side the following season and slotted 19 goals to guide the team to a league win before calling it quits at the end of the following campaign.

Ratcliffe spoke about his plans for the club after the announcement and inisisted: 'As a local boy and a lifelong supporter of the club, I am very pleased that we have been able to agree a deal with the Manchester United board that delegates us management responsibility of the football operations of the club.

'Whilst the commercial success of the club has ensured there have always been available funds to win trophies at the highest level, this potential has not been fully unlocked in recent times.'