Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has come under pressure following the team's disappointing start to the season

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has faced criticism despite the team securing a comeback triumph over Roma in the Champions League. Michael Carrick's squad broke their nine-match winless streak on Tuesday and will be hoping to gather momentum against Aston Villa at the weekend.

The United boss has been experiencing mounting pressure owing to the club's underwhelming start to the campaign. Carrick appeared destined for another loss after falling 2-0 behind against the Italian outfit before a Bruno Fernandes penalty and a Matheus Cunha double salvaged three points for United.

However, supporters at Old Trafford expressed their discontent by launching a demonstration against United's ownership during the game, with INEOS chief Ratcliffe and the Glazer family bearing the brunt of fan chants. Here is a summary of the most significant stories surrounding the club.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe stance on Man United exit

The 74-year-old has faced backlash from supporters since acquiring an initial 25 per cent stake in United in December 2023. His INEOS organisation oversees football-related matters at Old Trafford and Ratcliffe has previously indicated that he would step down from his position at United if he proved as unpopular with fans as his fellow co-owners, which was arguably demonstrated against Roma on Tuesday.

"I mean, I can put up with it for a while," Ratcliffe told The Times last year. "I don't mind being unpopular because I get that nobody likes seeing Manchester United down where they are, and nobody likes the decisions we're having to make at the moment.

"If I draw a bit of the ire, I can put up with that. But I'm no different to the average person. It's not nice, particularly for friends and family. So, eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I'd have to say, 'Look, enough's enough guys, let somebody else do this'.

"They can't really come to a match, the Glazers. They've retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I'm getting all the stick. We bought in and I haven't seen them since. It's, 'Thank you, Jim, you're doing a really good job'.

"At the moment, I don't have security, I don't have to walk around like that. But it would defeat the object, wouldn't it? You couldn't tolerate it at that level, it just wouldn't be fun."

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David Beckham takeover backed

Former Premier League striker Djibril Cisse has proposed United icon David Beckham as a credible successor to Ratcliffe, should INEOS opt to offload their stake in the club. The 51-year-old has executive-level expertise as co-owner of MLS outfit Inter Miami.

"Could David Beckham replace the Glazers and INEOS at Manchester United? Why not?" ex-Liverpool star Cisse said to Mr Gamble. "He's doing a good job at Inter Miami.

"He has an aura, he has a name, he's David Beckham, and he carries real weight in world football. So yes, why not?"

Should Beckham pursue a takeover at Old Trafford, Cisse suggested that his former Sunderland manager Roy Keane should be appointed United boss. He added: "It would be another club legend coming back. If it were him and Roy Keane, that would be amazing.

"Keane has the weight of experience and history. He is a strong personality and he's an icon of the club."