Manchester United’s supporters have staged a protest against the ongoing ownership of the Glazer family ahead of Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa.
The Red Devils are in the midst of a drawn out takeover process, with the Raine Group currently handling bids from Sir Jim Radcliffe, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and a number of other interested in parties looking to make minority investments.
90min understands that Ratcliffe’s final submission technically values United at a higher price than Sheikh Jassim, though his bid is to only secure a controlling stake at Old Trafford and not to take full 100% ownership.
The latter’s bid is understood to clear the current £5bn sale record for a sports franchise, but 90min revealed on Friday that the offer is still short of the Glazer’s £6bn asking price.
There’s a growing sense from those around United that the Glazers would prefer to broker a deal with investors rather than parting ways with the club entirely, which may put Ratcliffe in a favourable position ahead of a final decision being made.
But that’s a stance that doesn’t sit well with United supporters, who have long protested and campaigned against the Glazers ownership.
Those protests have continued ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game with Aston Villa, with an organised demonstration demanding that the American family leave the club completely. Videos taken outside of the club’s Munich Tunnel show supporters loudly chanting ‘we want Glazers out, we want Glazers out!’ while other banners leading into the ground read ‘Full sale only’ and ‘Fight greed, fight Glazers’.
Outside the Munich Tunnel:@TheAthleticFC #MUFC pic.twitter.com/ueaEzD0efL
— Dan Sheldon (@dansheldonsport) April 30, 2023
United’s off-field issues have detracted from what has actually been a very promising debut season under manager Erik ten Hag.
The Dutchman still has defensive and mentality issues to iron out at United, but victory over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final in February was a huge step in the right direction for a club who used to win silverware on a regular basis.
United should also be shoo-ins to qualify for next season’s Champions League, barring a late collapse, and will contest the 2023 FA Cup final with neighbourhood rivals Manchester City at Wembley in early June.
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On this edition of The Promised Land, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders & Rob Blanchette discuss what Man Utd’s perfect summer transfer window might look like, with links to a new striker, central midfielder and central defender doing the rounds.
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