Sir Jim Ratcliffe has arrived at Manchester United for the first time since Ineos took control of football operations following his £1.3billion investment.

Ratcliffe will hold meetings at Old Trafford on Tuesday after arriving at the stadium from the airport where his private jet was pictured this morning.

It’s understood the 71-year-old is in town for a few days and will meet Erik ten Hag and the players at Carrington later in the week. The squad have been given the day off but are due back in on Wednesday.

Although Ineos can’t have an active role in the running of United until Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 25 per cent of the club is ratified in February, this is seen as the start of a ‘looking, learning and listening’ exercise to help them get up to speed with operations and develop a plan to work with existing staff.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to hold meetings at Old Trafford today after arriving at the club

Ratcliffe will also speak to United manager Erik ten Hag later this week

Ten Hag is under pressure with United having lost 14 matches already this season

Sources say meetings will continue at Old Trafford and Carrington throughout the transition phase until the deal is completed when Ratcliffe passes the Premier League’s fit and proper person test and his acquisition of Class-A shares is approved by the New York Stock Exchange.

Insiders insist this is a positive process which sees United’s leadership welcoming Ineos to the club and establishing a partnership that will continue after the deal is completed. 

Although Ineos chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc is expected to take over as United CEO and Brailsford wants to appoint a new football director, Stewart and Murtough are expected to have roles in the new set-up.