Manchester United appear to “only” have their sights set on finishing in the top four this season as the club prepares to be sold by the Glazer family.
As speculation grows around the possible sale of the club by American owners, Erik ten Hag and his team are seeking Champions League qualification as a minimum requirement by the end of the season.
And with Glazer’s 17-year ownership of the club appearing to come to an end, Duncan Castles says the team is looking to immediately restore European glory, as he says in The Times.
Following last week’s revelation that Joel and Avram Glazer were looking for credible suitors in a potential sale, the players have been told finishing outside the top four in this year’s Premier League will not be accepted.
And it is a stark reminder of how far the club’s fortunes are from the success it enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson.
United are still reeling from Cristiano Ronaldo’s allusion in his recent explosive interview with TalkTv, revealing that he has seen “no development at the club” since the Scotsman retired nine years ago.
“You have some things within the club that don’t help United reach the highest level. [like] City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal. In my opinion, it will be difficult for United to be at the top of the game in the next two or three years,” explained the Portuguese superstar.
Castles went on to question not only the motives behind the planned sale, but also the future owners and their credibility.
“Was it a coincidence that Manchester United, ‘one of the world’s most successful and storied sports clubs’, according to their own press release, was formally available for sale on the very day they allowed arguably the most successful footballer in all time Breaking the club’s most lucrative gaming contract? The journalist asks himself in his article.
And United fans could be forgiven for thinking Castles has been rather observant, given the timing of Glazers’ recent statement.
With the American billionaires stating that they were “beginning a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club”, including “new investments in the club, a sale or other transactions involving the company”, the stormy term coming to an end has excited the fans. worldwide.
But as has been pointed out, it will take a person, or people, with incredibly deep pockets to take the reins at the Old Trafford club.
With reports suggesting that up to £10bn would be needed to acquire the club’s lock, shares and barrel, an official asking price of £5bn was “floated to the market”.
And with Castles questioning the level of ambition within the club, despite who is in charge, potential new owners will surely need to bring success back to Old Trafford, immediately.
