Manchester United’s owners on Tuesday said they were ready to sell the club, potentially bringing down the curtain on an acrimonious 17 years under the Glazer family.
On a tumultuous day for the English giants, it was earlier revealed that star player Cristiano Ronaldo has left the club with “immediate effect.”
Weeks of turbulence appeared to have come to an end when United announced Ronaldo’s contract had been terminated by mutual agreement to bring to an end his second spell at Old Trafford.
Photo: AFP
That dramatic announcement was eclipsed just hours later by the news that the US-based Glazer family could also be on their way out.
“The board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale or other transactions involving the company,” United said in a statement.
The Glazers have been unpopular with supporters ever since a ￡790 million (US$942 million at the current exchange rate) leveraged takeover in 2005 burdened the club with huge debts.
Frustration toward the Americans has only grown during a nine-year decline in results on the pitch since Alex Ferguson’s retirement as manager in 2013.
The Red Devils have not won the English Premier League title since Ferguson’s final campaign in the 2012-2013 season and have failed to win a trophy since 2017.
United currently sit fifth in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.
“We will evaluate all options to ensure that we best serve our fans and that Manchester United maximizes the significant growth opportunities available to the club today and in the future,” said Avram and Joel Glazer, the club’s executive cochairmen and directors.
The statement also recognized the need for investment in stadium redevelopment.
Old Trafford remains the largest club stadium in England with a capacity of 74,000, but has not had a significant upgrade since 2006.
Erik ten Hag is the fifth permanent manager at Old Trafford in the past nine years and his early months in charge have been dominated by debate over Ronaldo’s place in the team. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had been used sparingly by the former Ajax boss.
Ronaldo last week reacted with an explosive interview on TalkTV in which he said he felt “betrayed” by the club and had no respect for Ten Hag.
The Portugal captain, who is competing in his fifth FIFA World Cup, also took aim at the Glazers, saying they “don’t care about the club.”
“Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect,” United said in a statement. “The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.”
News of the Glazers inviting investment comes just weeks after Liverpool’s US owners, the Fenway Sports Group, indicated they were willing to sell.
United and Liverpool were involved in the failed European Super League (ESL) project that sought to create a US-style closed league format for Europe’s elite clubs without the need to qualify or promotion and relegation.
Amid a furious backlash over the ESL, a match between United and Liverpool was abandoned in May last year after supporters stormed the pitch at a time when fans were shut out of stadiums due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Protests against the Glazers have continued to be common on match days at Old Trafford, despite huge spending on player transfer fees and wages, including on Ronaldo’s homecoming.
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