BREAKING: Gary Neville warns Apollo ‘they won’t be welcome in Manchester’, tells Glazers it’s ‘totally unacceptable’ to sell United, says ‘US money is a bigger danger than any other’ for English football.
Gary Neville took to Twitter early on Friday about the Man United ownership sagaThe Old Trafford hero has been a fierce long-term critic of the Glazer familyNeville controversially said that US money is the biggest danger to English football There are no immediate plans to inject new money into the club despite the interest
Gary Neville has received word that the Glazer family are considering selling a stake in Manchester United to US investment fund Apollo.
Taking to Twitter in the early hours of Friday, Old Trafford hero Neville wrote: “If the reports are true that the Glazer family are prepared to part-sell before a full sale, it is totally unacceptable that this is at a American investment fund.
“Apollo have been mentioned, but they must know they will not be welcome in Manchester.”
He continued: “The American model of sports ownership is based on a meaningful return on investment (at any cost, i.e. Super League and Big Picture).
“The ownership model in England needs to change and US money is a bigger danger to that than any other international money. We need a regulator as soon as possible!’
Gary Neville has told US investment firm Apollo they will not be welcome in Manchester
Sports mail It exclusively revealed this week that New York-based private equity group Apollo was in talks with the Glazer family to take a minority stake in United.
Talks between the Glazers and the American firm are focused on how much money the family will receive for their shares, with no immediate plans to inject new money into the club.
The news will come as a blow to long-suffering fans who are hoping new investors can inject much-needed funds to renovate Old Trafford and the Carrington training ground, or provide a bigger transfer kitty.
Neville’s comments about US money being the biggest danger to English football appear controversial. Newcastle was taken over last year by a Saudi-led consortium amid criticism from organizations such as Amnesty International over the nation’s sports-washing and human rights record.
Other American owners, meanwhile, have found success at English sides, for example Liverpool’s fierce rivals Liverpool.
There are no immediate plans to inject new money into the club and renovate Old Trafford
John Henry and Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, have not always made popular decisions at Anfield and have at times been forced to turn around by angry fans. But manager Jurgen Klopp speaks glowingly of them and they have finally revamped Anfield and overseen Champions League and Premier League triumphs.
Also, Los Angeles Dodgers owner Todd Boehly recently bought Chelsea after his predecessor Roman Abramovich had his assets frozen due to his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The negotiations with Apollo focus on how much four members of the Glazer family—Kevin, Bryan, Darcie and Edward Glazer—are willing to accept for their actions.
They want out, unlike their brothers Joel and Avram Glazer, who have no intention of giving up full ownership or day-to-day control of United.
The six brothers each own the same number of shares in United and, crucially, control 97 percent of the voting capital between them. Some shares are also listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but have very diluted voting rights.
Manchester United fans are increasing the pressure on the Glazer family to sell the club
There is a new impetus to the anti-Glazer protests which will take place before United play Liverpool
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has also expressed an interest in mounting a takeover, fueling hopes among United fans that the club’s scorned American owners will finally decide to sell them.
It has given fresh impetus to anti-Glazer protests which will take place ahead of Monday’s game against Liverpool amid tight security around Old Trafford. The same match was postponed last year after angry demonstrations.
On Thursday, a fans’ group dedicated to targeting United’s sponsors and damaging the Glazers’ revenue streams wrote to Apollo threatening to tarnish the company’s reputation if it did not walk away from the talks.
United’s off-field problems have been compounded by losing their opening two games of the Premier League season under new manager Erik ten Hag.
A 2-1 defeat by Brighton was followed by a 4-0 thrashing of Brentford to leave United bottom of the Premier League table.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has also expressed interest in mounting a takeover
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