Manchester United hero Gary Neville is supporting Sir Jim Ratcliffe's takeover attempt.
Britain's richest man, who is worth roughly 12.5billion, this week became the first party to officially confirm their intention to buy the club from the Glazers. United's American owners placed the Red Devils up for sale last November, with potential suitors needing to register their interest with merchant Raine Group in order to begin due diligence.
And while United legend Neville believes the Glazers leaving Old Trafford is still the most important outcome, he has backed Ratcliffe to do right by the Premier League giants.
The main thing is that the Glazers leave as quickly as possible and the second thing is that whoever takes it over, if they could hand it over to people who are in good hands and have a feeling for the club, that would be great," Neville told Sky Sports.
Jim Ratcliffe was born in Manchester and knows the area. If he wins it, I think there will be a lot of very happy Manchester United fans. He would want to do the right thing by the club - in fact I am sure that he would.
That's the main thing beyond the Glazers leaving, that they don't hand it overI don't think United can hand it over to another investment firm who are expecting a return on their money. That's what worries me a little bit about private enquiry coming into football and that ultimately, they are looking for a return on their money and a return on their investment.
If that's the case, it could mean that United aren't in a similar place to where this club [ Manchester City ] are here, or Newcastle with benefactors who are happy to live debt free, not have interest payments, not leverage debt against the club. Manchester United need to be a debt-free football club, with someone who's willing to put money in."
