Ed Woodward Denies Allegations of Vetoing Man Utd Transfer for Commercial Motives
Manchester United fans have long criticized the Glazer family for their lack of investment in the club, which has resulted in a decade-long drought of Premier League titles. However, hopes were raised when Sir Jim Ratcliffe made a minority investment in the club, expressing his desire to bring sporting success on the pitch alongside commercial success. But according to a recent report from ESPN, it seems that commercial motives may have influenced transfer decisions during Ed Woodward’s tenure as CEO.
The report claims that Woodward prevented former manager Jose Mourinho from signing Ivan Perisic in 2017, citing commercial viability as the reason. Perisic, who was then playing for Inter Milan, had an impressive season with 11 goals and eight assists in Serie A. He continued his strong performances in the following campaign and even helped Inter Milan win the Scudetto in the 2020-21 season after a loan spell at Bayern Munich.
An ex-United player revealed to ESPN that Mourinho wanted to sign Perisic but was told by Woodward that he wasn’t commercially viable. However, Woodward has denied these allegations, stating that commercial considerations were never a factor in transfer decisions. It remains unclear who is telling the truth, but this revelation raises questions about the influence of commercial interests on player recruitment at Manchester United.
Interestingly, the same ex-player also claimed that Mourinho wanted Anthony Martial to be sold because he didn’t consider him good enough or reliable. However, this decision was reportedly vetoed by the Glazer family, with Joel Glazer being a big fan of Martial. It seems that there were conflicting opinions within the club regarding player transfers and team building.
It is worth noting that Mourinho was backed significantly in the summer of 2017, signing players like Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Despite finishing second in the Premier League that season, Mourinho still felt the need for another attacking option and brought in Alexis Sanchez in a swap deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the January window. This achievement is considered one of Mourinho’s best.
However, the following summer saw less investment in the squad, with only Diogo Dalot, Fred, and backup goalkeeper Lee Grant being added to the team. Mourinho was eventually sacked in December 2018, highlighting the lack of stability and success during his tenure as manager.
The allegations of vetoing transfers for commercial reasons raise concerns among Manchester United fans who are eager to see the club return to its former glory. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment and promises of sporting success, supporters hope that commercial interests will no longer hinder the team’s progress on the pitch.
In conclusion, the allegations of Ed Woodward vetoing a transfer for commercial motives have sparked controversy and debate. While Woodward denies these claims, it is clear that there have been conflicting opinions within the club regarding player recruitment. Manchester United fans will be watching closely to see if Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment brings about the desired change and leads to a revival of the club’s on-field success.