Why John Obi Mikel claims Glazers ‘were a little bit okay’ compared with Sir Jim Ratcliffe

John Obi Mikel has dropped a damning assessment of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos’ reign at Manchester United after a bold comparison with the Glazers.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has become a contentious figure for Manchester United fans after the Red Devils’ struggles since his co-ownership of the club began in 2024.

The 74-year-old British billionaire has divided the Red Devils fan base for his comments outside of the Premier League club and cost-cutting measures as well.

United have seen staff layoffs, a rise in ticket prices and the quality of overall football plummet since Ineos took control of football operations at the club.

READ MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos’ task is to break ‘six-year Man Utd narrative’ that is hard to argue against

John Obi Mikel points out the bigger issues Sir Jim Ratcliffe has caused in a shorter time ahead of the Glazers

Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel insisted that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s immediate decisions at Manchester United have already edged out the impact that the Glazers have had in the short term. The 39-year-old former Chelsea midfielder pointed to United’s rise in ticket prices and redundancies as the two standout examples.

“But again, the owners, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has gone into that football club,” Mikel said.

“He has destroyed Manchester United. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has destroyed Manchester [United]. No, no, no, he has… and the Glazers. Both of them. But the Glazers were a little bit okay.

“But Jim Ratcliffe has come to the football club [and] has cut 400 people or so [have been] made redundant, right? Saving money. Saving money.”

United have experienced two waves of redundancies since Ratcliffe arrived as the Red Devils’ co-owner. According to BBC Sport in 2024, United were looking to axe around 250 staff from over 1,100 employed at the Premier League club at that time. It was expected that the savings that the Premier League club would make would be between £8m and £10m from the first round of layoffs.

READ MORE: The ‘impossible’ Man Utd presence that Sir Jim Ratcliffe cannot replicate for Ineos at Old Trafford

Fast-forward to 2025 and it emerged that an additional 200 roles could be axed as part of Ineos’ cost-cutting measures. BBC Sport added at that time that United’s sports science, medical and scouting departments were expected to be hit in the second round of layoffs.

Alongside the redundancies made under Ineos, Mikel also slammed Ratcliffe for the rising ticket prices at United during a period that the Red Devils have struggled. Ineos have increased ticket prices on two occasions for United fans since their control of football operations at Old Trafford.

“Ticket prices are going up for a club [such] as Manchester United,” Mikel added.

“And he said, ‘I’m not going to buy a £100million player anymore.’ He’s not going to buy a £100million player anymore. But in today’s game, top players, [they] cost money.”

During the 2024-25 Premier League season, Man Utd raised matchday ticket prices to £66 per match and offered zero concessions for children or pensioners. United then introduced a more dynamic pricing model in 2025 that could see single-match tickets increase for top-tier fixtures, which could reach up to £97 in some cases.

Man Utd’s season ticket holders have also been impacted by the Ineos regime and the rising costs. A 5 per cent price increase was implemented across all adult season tickets at Old Trafford ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season. United had an 11-year freeze on season ticket prices before it came to an end at the start of the 2023-24 campaign.