Football: Manchester United owners consider sale as Ronaldo exits

LONDON – Manchester United said on Tuesday it was commencing a process to explore “strategic alternatives”, including a new investment or a potential sale, 17 years after the American Glazer family bought the English Premier League football club.

The Glazer family is working with financial advisers on the process, which could lead to a partial sale of the Old Trafford club or investments including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, the club said in a statement.

United fans have been protesting and clamouring for a change of ownership and the Glazers have been the target of intense criticism as the team have gone five years without winning a trophy.

“As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the board has authorised a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions,” said Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer, who bought the club for £790 million (S$1.3 billion) in 2005.

“We will evaluate all options to ensure that we best serve our fans and that Manchester United maximises the significant growth opportunities available to the club today and in the future.”

In August, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe had expressed interest in buying United, but the links have cooled. At the time, Tesla and Twitter boss Elon Musk had also joked about planning to buy the club.

United shares jumped as much as 20 per cent after Sky News first reported on the sale process, giving the club a market capitalisation of US$2.6 billion (S$3.6 billion).

Also on Tuesday, the club said that star striker Cristiano Ronaldo will leave with “immediate effect”, marking a bitter end to the Portugal captain’s second spell at United.

Ronaldo set the stage for his exit last week with

his outspoken television interview on TalkTV

in which he said he felt “betrayed” by the club and had no respect for new manager Erik ten Hag. He also took aim at the Glazers, claiming they “don’t care about the club”.

In a statement, United said: “Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.

“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.”

Former defender Rio Ferdinand said the departure of his former teammate could have been handled better by both club and player but that the decision was “best for both parties”.

He told the BBC that Ronaldo had put the club in an “untenable situation”. “Was it handled perfectly? I think, from both parties, no. But if you look at the end game, they’ve got to where he and the club wanted to get to,” he added.

Former United forward Wayne Rooney, who was criticised by Ronaldo in the interview, said: “Once he had done the interview and how he had attacked the club, there was no option. It’s a shame because he’s been a fantastic servant.”

AFP, REUTERS