United ‘burnt through cash’
Red Devils chief questions £1 billion spent on players, but vows ten Hag will get support
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LONDON • Manchester United chief executive Richard Arnold, who replaced the unpopular Ed Woodward earlier this year, admitted the club had "burnt through cash" after being filmed secretly while meeting supporters of the struggling English giants.
But he promised new manager Erik ten Hag, who will replace interim boss Ralf Rangnick, would have money to spend in a video clip posted on social media.
Fans had been planning a protest outside Arnold's home amid ongoing unrest about the ownership of United by the United States-based Glazer family.
Arnold, who heard about the protest plan, then met the supporters at a nearby pub instead.
He bought drinks for the group and discussed a range of topics, including the owners, financial issues, and United's pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
This meeting followed United's worst Premier League season in terms of points, the club finishing sixth with a tally of 58 following only 16 wins from their 38 games. They also failed to lift a trophy in a campaign where Rangnick took over from former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked last November.
Arnold, 51, seemingly unaware he was being filmed, said of United's financial position: "We spent a billion pounds on players, we spent more than anyone in Europe. I'm not thrilled where we are.
"What's happened is we've burnt through cash. I don't think we've done well with the money we've spent historically.
"For this summer, the money that the manager and the director of football want is there."
He added: "For the future, for investing in a new stadium and that sort of stuff, to do a latest and greatest £250 million (S$425.6 million) training ground, we've got to do something, we've got to get investors in.
"I need that to do what I want for the club. I've got to have more cash than we have now because no club in the world has the money to do a new stadium without getting it from somewhere, no one generates that - you either borrow it or someone invests it."
Some of United’s biggest signings in post-Ferguson era
DEFENDERS
•Matteo Darmian, £12.7 million
•Alex Telles, £15.4m
•Marcos Rojo, £16m
•Diogo Dalot, £19m
•Eric Bailly, £30m
•Luke Shaw, £30m
•Victor Lindelof, £31m
•Raphael Varane, £41m
•Aaron Wan-Bissaka, £50m
•Harry Maguire, £80m
MIDFIELDERS
•Daley Blind, £14m
•Morgan Schneiderlin, £24m
•Marouane Fellaini, £27.5m
•Ander Herrera, £29m
•Donny van de Beek, £39m
•Nemanja Matic, £40m
•Bruno Fernandes, £47m
•Fred, £52m
•Paul Pogba, £89m
FORWARDS
•Cristiano Ronaldo, £13m
•Memphis Depay, £31m
•Daniel James, £25m
•Henrikh Mkhitaryan, £26.3m
•Alexis Sanchez, £35m
•Anthony Martial, £36m
•Juan Mata, £37.1m
•Amad Diallo, £37m
•Angel di Maria, £59.7m
•Jadon Sancho, £73m
•Romelu Lukaku, £75m
A spokesman for Manchester United said: "Richard heard that a group of fans had gathered in a pub near his house.
"He went to meet them, bought them all a drink, listened to their views, and explained what the club is doing to deliver success on the pitch, improve the stadium, and strengthen engagement with fans."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
