Every day, Manchester United’s many followers wait for an update on the takeover situation at Old Trafford. And every day, there are plenty.
Many are inaccurate and poorly sourced but fans still click to read, usually in the hope of several things: chiefly that the Glazer family who took over the club in a controversial highly leveraged buyout in 2005 will no longer be in control.
Then there’s the small matter of what comes next and a club under new ownership, be it from one of the two confirmed bidders: British chemical company INEOS, headed by Britain’s richest man, Manchester-born Sir Jim Ratcliffe, or a bid led by Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Who fans want depends on who you ask and where you ask it. On the Twitter social media platform, support overwhelmingly favours the Qatari bid.
On polls carried out behind pay walls for The Athletic, the United We Stand fanzine (71.94 per cent, last polled on Friday) or the club’s vast Scandinavian supporters club, the support is strongly in favour of the INEOS bid. Fans don’t know the detail of what either bidder plans beyond an eye-catching one- paragraph statement.
United fans have become even more divided (in 2005, a few thousand fans set up a breakaway club FC United of Manchester) and entrenched on their positions, the online mood toxic and intolerant. Protagonists are abused, falsehoods pedalled.
The atmosphere is completely different in real life at games, but all 99 per cent of fans agree on one thing, they want to see back of the Glazers. That the Glazers are taking so long to decide to whom they sell the club only adds to the frustration.
Both bidding parties have signed non-disclosure agreements, allowing even more room in the vacuum of idle talk. Both have employed London PR agencies to do their bidding and briefing, but even they can say nothing on the record, allowing for more misinformation.
Both sides have become frustrated with the bidding process, which started after the November announcement that the Glazers were considering selling the club and sought to “explore strategic alternatives”. And both will agree that the process is deeply frustrating and should never have taken so long.
Both, too, have expected to hear news on their bids at various stages, only for nothing to happen. Last week was supposed to be significant, yet Ratcliffe clearly thought otherwise and took a trekking holiday. Next week never comes.
Man United player ratings for 2022/23 season
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MANCHESTER UNITED 2022/23 SEASON RATINGS: GOALKEEPERS: David de Gea 6.5: Started all 38 league games and kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper, made numerous key saves, yet his mistakes are highlighted more. His presence in the team now divides fans, as does whether he should sign a new contract or be moved on. AP -
Tom Heaton 7: Second-choice goalkeeper for much of the season, which frustrated him as he felt he deserved to play more. Always professional and valued in the dressing room, the 37-year-old played well in two League Cup games, keeping a clean sheet and helping United towards Wembley. Getty -
DEFENDERS: Aaron Wan Bissaka 7: Barely figured before the festive period when his United future looked bleak, especially after a horror opening 15 minutes in a Cadiz friendly. Much better as the season went on and became first-choice full-back again. Excellent defensively, can still be suspect with his final ball going forward. EPA -
Diogo Dalot 7: First-choice right-back in the first half of the season as he started the first 15 league games, the 24-year-old was suspended then injured in November and came back a lesser player in February. Signed a new contract last week, which he deserves, but the right-back position remains an issue for Ten Hag. AP -
Victor Lindelof 6.5: Injured at the start of season then unable to break into the side but then played in 90 minutes in all of the last nine games – and performed well. Needed when Martinez was injured and selected over Maguire by a manager who rates him. Getty -
Harry Maguire 6: His worst season at United and probably in his pro career. Lost his place after the Brentford debacle and played second fiddle to others but didn’t actually play badly when in the team. Always spoke in a dignified manner, but footballers like to play football and he’s not getting enough at United. Getty -
Lisandro Martinez 8.5: Superb first season in England for the Argentine World Cup winner. Hammered for his height after a walloping at Brentford, he proved just about every doubter wrong with his fearless performances. The 25-year-old fractured a metatarsal against Sevilla. How costly that would prove. Became a cult hero among fans. Getty -
Raphael Varane 8: World-class defender who, like Casemiro, won it all at Real Madrid and lives up to his status most weeks. Only worry is how many games he can play – 22/38 league games is hardly the rock to build a team on. Tactically and technically peerless, he’s also calm, fast, aggressive and comfortable against the best sides. Remains a key player for United. PA -
Luke Shaw 7.5: Raises his game when his position is under threat. He was deservedly dropped after the two opening defeats and had to work his way back into the side ahead of new signing Malacia. Became a key United player. Powerful and attack-minded, he also performed well as a central defender, but left-back is where he excels. PA -
Tyrell Malacia 6.5: New signing from Feyenoord who didn’t wait long to show what he could do. His lack of experience became apparent over games though and he lost his place to Shaw. A creditable first season and it is a positive that he’s there to push first-choice left-back Shaw. Getty -
MIDFIELDERS: Fred 7: Only 12 league starts for the Brazilian as Casemiro and Eriksen took his place. Became a key player coming off the bench, bringing energy and a surprisingly high six goals. Disappointing season for him, yet contained some of his greatest moments as a United player – a goal against Barcelona and another belter in a magnificent October match against Spurs. AFP -
Casemiro 8.5: One of the best midfielders in the world and how he showed it. A key player throughout the season, the cement between the bricks in the eyes of his boss. Brings balance, closes spaces, breaks up play, assists, scores and better than anyone in the air. His seven goals were a bonus. Will hopefully learn from the two silly red cards that cost him and his team in the spring. AFP -
Christian Eriksen 7.5: Impressive season for the creative Dane. It was interrupted after he picked up a serious injury in January, but thankfully returned from by April. A creator capable of passing between the lines, the 31-year-old only scored twice, but showed his value with 10 assists. Getty -
Scott McTominay 6.5: Started season well, but lost his place in the side to Casemiro, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Aged 26, United could get a significant fee for him and that could happen this summer. A good Premier League standard footballer who could perform at a top-half side every week. A world-class midfielder for Man United? That would bring a different answer. Getty -
Bruno Fernandes 8: Started in an incredible 58 games and remained mostly injury-free. Moany and motivated, he scored an impressive 14 times (and picked up 12 yellow cards). A versatile leader who takes responsibility, he was comfortable with the penalty in the FA Cup final and likely to be United’s captain next season. PA -
Marcel Sabitzer 6.5: A January loan from Bayern Munich to cover for the injured Eriksen, Sabitzer’s two first-half goals against Sevilla were his highlight, but, like his time at the club, they didn’t have a happy ending. Missed the final games of the season to injury, but professional throughout. Leaves with best wishes. Reuters -
ATTACKERS: Jadon Sancho 6: Started well but then had an awful game in Europa League in Cyprus where he looked shot of confidence. Left out of the side, sent to the Netherlands to get him back into a place where he could play for Manchester United again and that happened. Is it unrealistic to expect much more than six league goals and three assists from a player who promised so much and cost so much? No. Getty -
Antony 7: Arrived with a huge fee from Ajax. Started 39 games and scored eight goals. Needs to score more, assist more, be less predictable and be a greater danger closer to goal. PA -
Cristiano Ronaldo 5: Didn’t want to be at the club but sent mixed messages to Ten Hag who asked him straight. A negative influence in the dressing room and the mood (and results) improved when he departed. Featured in 16 games and scored three. One of the greatest players ever, just not this season. PA -
Marcus Rashford 9: The 30-goal tally says it all. Where would United have been without those goals from a team over-reliant on a player who plays out left. Despondent last season, a full pre-season and a manager right behind him helped him perform all season. Needs a goalscorer alongside him and he could be even better. Player of the season. Getty -
Antony Martial 6: Eleven league starts isn’t enough. Nor is it surprising for a player whose career is badly afflicted by injury. The maddening thing is that when he plays United look a better side with him linking plays and his nine goals from only 17 starts across all competitons is no bad statistic. Getty -
Alejandro Garnacho 8: Breakthrough star who gets fans off their seats. Scored five goals, most notably the winner at Fulham in the final game before the World Cup finals. He’s not short of confidence and still has much to learn but he’s only 18 and has plenty of time to do that. Getty -
Facundo Pellistri 6: Started only one game and came on in nine others – where he usually made an impact by running at opponents and crossing. The Uruguayan international, 21, is a bright prospect. PA -
Wout Weghorst 6: He huffed and he puffed and he brought the ball down, the January loan signing was a goalscorer who doesn’t score, but he was affordable, gettable and fitted into Erik ten Hag’s system when he needed a striker after the departure of Ronaldo. Far from the standard of a top United striker, but he was available when others weren’t. EPA -
MANAGER: Erik ten Hag 8: Impressive first season for the Dutch manager with a trophy and a third-place finish. Going out limply to Sevilla stung, but he handled the big decisions well, especially concerning Ronaldo. A disciplinarian with a human touch, he’s no-nonsense and comfortable with the demands of being in charge of a huge club. Needs to be backed so he can continue to improve United. PA
The Glazers can afford it to take as long as there are still people who will pay billions for their shares, but it’s not infinite. United shouldn’t do, but now need capital.
The irony is that United are the one club that shouldn’t need a deep-pocketed owner. The business supports the club (that’s what made it so attractive to the Glazers) and the cost of investment in the stadium could be spread out over multiple years and does meet Financial Fair Play rules.
United need a new stadium or redevelopment of Old Trafford, plus the training ground. Both are excellent facilities, they’re just not the best any more and Old Trafford, especially, has not been developed as it should have been since the Glazers took over. United, so long, England’s biggest club, need investment to remain so.
False news flourishes when there is no news. Add in the end of the football season when there’s nothing happening on the pitch, or the club being able to confirm or deny stories as usual and tweaks to social media algorithms that amplify the most engaged posts – whether true or not.
Anonymous aggregator accounts fan the flames – and do so again when various "updates" are discounted as untrue. It’s all about engagement, a bluffers’ bliss. And if they’re wrong? Well nobody was taking them seriously anyway; they just wanted to.
Journalists are rubbished if they bring news that different groups of fans don’t want to hear and are accused of being part of the rival bidding, but it’s not only United fans who want clarity.
United’s 1,000 full time staff do. Imagined deadlines come and go. Fans who’d otherwise obsess over possible player transfers now try to decipher financial information from the New York Stock Exchange where United’s shares are publicly listed.
Actual deadlines for bids matter little beyond ushering in a new round of bids. This is the auction the Glazers wanted to maximise their sale price.
They’re ponderous decision makers at the best of times. There are decisions relating to middle-ranking members of staff that have to be approved by the Glazers. These processes have deeply frustrated previous United managers; it is not a dynamic, front-footed, business.
Witness how long United took to establish a women’s team, to properly fund the youth system, to do even some piecemeal improvements to Old Trafford – and the Glazers have no need to rush since the price being bid keeps going up.
It makes United more attractive that Erik ten Hag’s side will play Champions League football next season, yet the Dutch coach needs to plan for that season. United insist it is business as usual in their recruitment of players in the summer transfer window, yet how can it be usual with the huge elephant of the future of the club in the room?
The Glazers would like more bidders but two genuine ones are enough to play one off against the other. The gatekeepers to the bidding are the Raine Group. One person familiar with the bidding process described it as: “Tacky. Grubby.”
There are six Glazer siblings who are entitled to what would be a vast profit from the sale of a club that costs £790 million – and is now attracting bids of around £5 billion 18 years later.
The INEOS position has not changed for months. They are quietly confident. The Qatari position is similar. One group is going to be left disappointed. But not as disappointed and frustrated as the United fans, who deserve much better, are right now because after the Glazers, United need an owner who is buying the club for the right reasons and who understands and respects the fan culture and the history.
