It might not be a “Merry Christmas” at Manchester United.
The Red Devils are languishing in the bottom half of the table, with the only present they could muster to their fans over the weekend a drab 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
And yet, despite all their problems, Sir Jim Ratcliffe won’t be thinking about his stumbling football team. You see, his biggest problem this Christmas centre’s around his “fed up toy”.
“INOES is delighted to take on the responsibility of running such a professional team,” Sir Jim said, back in 2019, when he purchased Team Sky. The British cycling team was at the pinnacle of the sport when Sir Jim stepped in.
The team that would become the INEOS Grenadiers has regressed in the ensuing years – the team that was once littered with superstars is now a shell of its former self, and it’s now down its star man.
(Image: PA)
Don’t miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that’s it, job done. You’ll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
Tom Pidcock was INEOS’ last hope; the young British talent who has shone across disciplines on two wheels: a stage winner on the iconic Alpe d’Huez at the Tour de France, double Olympic gold medalist on the mountain bike; World Champion on the cross field.
“Ratcliffe is fed up with his toy. You can also see it in the riders they sign; they haven’t signed a big rider, and Pidcock is their big talent,” Johan Bruyneel, Directeur Sportif of the controversial US Postal side, admitted.
Pidcock had looked to be in the best form in some time heading in the Italian classics in Autumn, only to be dropped on the eve of Il Lombardia – the biggest race of the late season.
(Image: Getty)
It was the catalyst for a fall out that has seen Pidcock, on the eve of the festive season, tear up his contract with INEOS and head to Swiss second division side Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.
It’s a dramatic divorce that has left the British outfit without a star and Pidcock with a guaranteed shot at the biggest races on the calendar.
Whereas, for Sir Jim, his now needs a new star for his team – and that could cause a headache over his turkey dinner.