Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag waded into the anti-Glazers protest at Old Trafford after Manchester United’s narrow Premier League win over Aston Villa.
The Red Devils consolidated their chase for a top-four finish with a 1-0 win over Villa. Bruno Fernandes’ 39th-minute strike was enough to hand all three points to the Red Devils.
Before the game, Manchester United fans embarked on huge protest calling for the exit of the Glazers.
United fans have been pressing for the exit of the Glazers after the club’s recent domestic and European misfortunes before Erik Ten Hag’s emergence as new manager.
Futballnews understands the Glazers have put up the club for sale with two bidders – Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe – leading the race to take over the club.
After first and second bids fell below Glazers’ £6bn valuation, a third and final bid has been submitted.
Sheikh Jassim want a 100% ownership of the club with all debts, piled up over the years, to be cleared. There is also a bonus offer for infrastructural revamp. Sheikh Jassim’s bid is estimated at £5.5bn.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s offer is estimated at £5bn. The UK billionaire want a majority stake of the club while the Glazers will still retain part ownership, holding minority shares.
Manchester United fans seem to favor Sheikh Jassim’s offer than Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s.
Meanwhile, sources close to Raine Group, an American company overseeing the takeover process, says Sir Jim Ratcliffe is leading his rival, Sheikh Jassim, to takeover as Manchester United new owner.
Should Sir Jim Ratcliffe take over Manchester United, the Glazers will still remain at the club as minority shareholders.
With just over a week for a decision to be taken, Manchester United fans have reorganized mass protests again to register their opposition to any takeover deal that will still keep the Glazers at Old Trafford.
During the Aston Villa game, fans trouped into Theatre of Dreams with anti-Glazers flags, scarfs, and costumes.
After the game, Erik Ten Hag was pictured picking a green and gold scarf and throwing it back to the fans at the Stetford End.
Ten Hag’s gesture could be seen as a show of solidairy with the fans. He was cheered as he walked pass after picking the scarf.
The green and scold scarf, as used by the fans during the protests, represents the club’s glory days, before the Glazers took over the club.
It was used as defiance of the Glazers ownership of the club.
Erik Ten Hag maintains a professional stance on the imminent shifts and changes in the Manchester United hierachy.
Though he is focused mainly on his role as a manager, sources close to the Dutch tactician have revealed he has, however, favor a change of ownership that will make more funds available for the club to aid his effort to rebuild the club.
