Gary Neville blasts Glazers for treating Manchester United like a ‘toy’
Manchester United are operating like a ‘midtable club’ in the transfer market because the Glazers treat the club like a ‘toy’, according to Gary Neville. The Red Devils spent £172m in the summer transfer window and they raised around £55m in player sales, but they were unable to afford permanent transfers on deadline day.
It comes as the Glazers are reportedly set to take United off the market, nine months after they put the club up for sale. Neville believes the Americans are bluffing and simply want more money for the club but he says their ownership of the club has led to United acting like a ‘midtable club’.
‘It’s just a game for them, they think it’s a toy!” said Neville. ‘Of course they’re going to sell. They’re desperate for money. They can’t even compete on FFP anymore. Man Utd are talking like a midtable club when it comes to the transfer market. Man Utd turn over £500m, one of the highest revenue generating clubs in the world.
‘Chelsea, Arsenal can sign big players, Man Utd are scrambling around on FFP. I know they’ve had losses on Covid and that could be thrown as an excuse. Today was a fantastic game but it won’t change the fact that they’ve got owners of one of the biggest clubs in the world who are messing around with the football club and I’m not going to stop talking about it because it’s a massive problem.’
The Glazers have been the subject of protests from United fans since they took over in 2005 and their lack of investment has been a major source of frustration. The Americans have used a need to comply with Financial Fair Play as an excuse for their lack of investment, but Neville believes this is simply an excuse for their lack of ambition.
The former United defender believes that the Glazers are treating the club like a toy and he is adamant that they should be held accountable for their lack of investment in the team. He also believes that United should be competing with the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal in the transfer market, rather than having to rely on loan deals due to their financial constraints.
Neville is not alone in his criticism of the Glazers and United fans have continued their protests this season. The Red Devils have been unable to challenge for major honours since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and Neville believes that this is down to the Glazers’ lack of ambition and investment in the team.
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