Penny-pinching Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken haggling to absurd new heights, storming into final talks with RB Leipzig and demanding a “Sesko Clubcard” discount on the €76.5m-plus deal for Benjamin Šeško.
The tight-fisted billionaire apparently paid a Bangladeshi designer three quid on Fiverr.com to knock together a fake discount card, and subsequently argued with Leipzig officials that it should entitle him to a whopping 30% off the Slovenian striker. The designer, who also threw together the plans for Manchester United’s proposed new stadium is still awaiting to be remunerated for his work, but has been offered a signed photo of Andre Onana in lieu of payment.
Ratcliffe’s proposal was swiftly rejected by the German club’s officials, who almost choked on their currywurst when it was first broached. The INEOS chief, renowned for his frugal approach to expenditure, then insisted Sesko drive to Manchester for his medical to save on flight costs.
Fresh from concluding the Sesko deal, Ratcliffe is now reportedly plotting a move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, with The Seagulls’ owner Tony Bloom braced for a similarly audacious bid. Transfer ITK accounts on X have leaked that United are poised to offer Casemiro and £50m for the hightly-rated Cameroonian, with Brighton set to knock that back and insist on just the £50m.
