BIG TYCOON: Fans stunned as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looked ‘MASSIVE’ after he visited Man Utd and inspected the club’s training facilities

MANCHESTER UNITED fans are convinced Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a man mountain after seeing snaps of the club’s new shareholder with Erik ten Hag.

Britain’s richest man took a stroll around United’s Carrington training ground and Old Trafford this week following his December acquisition of shares in the club.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe visited Manchester United's Carrington training ground with Sir Dave Brailsford this week

Sir Jim Ratcliffe visited Manchester United’s Carrington training ground with Sir Dave Brailsford this week

Brailsford met with United's players and staff this week alongside Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Brailsford met with United’s players and staff this week alongside Sir Jim Ratcliffe

The duo inspected the club's training facilities

The duo inspected the club’s training facilities

Red Devils fans were blown away by the height of the club's new shareholder

Red Devils fans were blown away by the height of the club’s new shareholder

The INEOS chief was pictured deep in conversation with the under-pressure Ten Hag, whom he dwarfed in height.

Photos of the 71-year-old tycoon towering over Ten Hag started doing the rounds on social media on Thursday, sparking many a comment from Red Devils fans.

One wrote: “He’s massive.”

Another said: “Can he play CM though?”

And another said: “Can he play up front?”

One remarked: “Eight feet tall and a great head of hair….. are we about to win the league?”

Another chimed in: “The man certainly has the height to take the club back to its lofty heights.”

Ten Hag is by no means a short man, with the Dutchman standing at just over 5’9.

Erik ten Hag revealed he's had lengthy talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Erik ten Hag revealed he’s had lengthy talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Ratcliffe’s height may have been exaggerated in the pictures by the angle at which Ten Hag and he were photographed, giving the impression that Ratcliffe is much taller than he actually is.

The businessman is understood to be north of 6ft.

Among the fans commenting on the new pics were some who thought Ratcliffe’s association with Manchester United was already beginning to age him.

One said: “Looks like he’s aged 10 years in the past week, welcome!”

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Billionaire Ratcliffe completed his long and drawn-out acquisition of 25 per cent of the club on Christmas Eve.

Ratcliffe will have control of footballing matters at the club and recently had a long conversation with the under-pressure Ten Hag.

When asked how the talks had gone, Ten Hag said: “Very positive, I have to say.

“We had a long meeting, for many hours we sat together. On many issues we were on the same page, very positive from both sides,

“I can say that it was a very constructive meeting and we’re looking forward to working with each other.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe assures Manchester United staff making a return on his  £1.25 billion investment is not in his plans - Man Utd News