Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS have been forced to make a huge decision at one of their sport teams with some drastic cost-cutting measures

It's not just at Manchester United where INEOS are feeling the squeeze with a key star leaving from one of their other projects. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been bold in his sporting investment and alongside football he's injected cash into rugby, running and sailing.

However, it's his cycling team, Netcompany INEOS, that has seen some huge cost cutting measures after waving goodbye to, perhaps, its biggest star.

Race director Geraint Thomas has admitted that "money is not a bottomless pit" during a recent podcast when discussing Filippo Ganna's exit. “I was sad to see him go,” Thomas said, recalling the grand tours they had raced together. “A great guy and sad to see him go.”

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The former Tour de France winner suggested they could not justify both Ganna and Joshua Tarling: "Money's not a bottomless pit anymore...

“Josh is obviously a lot younger and kinda going into that road captain role as well. Both are great time trialists. Both have strengths and weaknesses, very similar. Can you afford to keep them both in the team? Ultimately, no.”

Ganna had been the superstar of the team, winning world titles and grand tour stages during his time at INEOS. However, starting in January, he will be riding for rivals Lidl-Trek.

Sir Jim took control of the team in 2019, back when they were called Team Sky. At that point, the British-based team had been cycling's most dominate force.

And during Sir Jim's first Tour, Egan Bernal worse the famous yellow jersey on the Champs-Elysees for INEOS. However, that remains their last Tour success thanks to the emergence of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.

However, Sir Jim has more pressing matters on his plate this week with the future of Michael Carrick up in the air after the Red Devils suffered another humiliating defeat over the weekend.