Manchester United supporters have taken their campaign to remove the Glazer family as owners of the club across the Atlantic, adding further pressure as the owners continue to delay a potential sale.
In a bold move, fans chartered a plane to fly a banner reading “Glazers Out” over the Raymond James Stadium in Florida while the Glazer-owned Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced the Philadelphia Eagles in a Monday night American Football game. The Daily Mail reported that the initiative was organized by the United Pittsburgh and Tampa supporters groups, earning praise on social media for their efforts.
Nearly a year ago, the Glazer family announced their intention to explore “strategic alternatives” for club ownership, setting off a protracted and agonizing bidding process. Two main contenders, Qatari prince Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani and INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, submitted bids in the range of £5 billion but are still awaiting a decision on the next owner. It is widely believed that the Glazers are holding out for a higher offer.
Fans have grown increasingly frustrated with the club’s management of the Mason Greenwood situation and the owners’ apparent reluctance to fully support Erik ten Hag in the past two transfer windows. In the winter window, despite the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Glazers failed to allocate funds, forcing Ten Hag to secure the loan signing of Burnley striker Wout Weghorst for the remainder of the season.
During the summer, Manchester United couldn’t compete for top talents like Declan Rice, who joined Arsenal, and Kim Min-Jae and Harry Kane, both signed by Bayern Munich. The inability to secure a replacement for departing defenders Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe, and Eric Bailly led Ten Hag to sign 35-year-old Jonny Evans on a free transfer.
The Glazers need no reminder of the fans’ determination for them to step aside, but they will have to endure the humiliation of having their ownership scrutinized by millions of American viewers watching Monday Night Football.