Man Utd owners to explore sale after Ronaldo release

FT Desk

• 22 Nov 2022 20:04 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United's Glazer family ownership are ready to explore the sale of the club in the immediate aftermath of releasing Cristiano Ronaldo from his contract.

Man Utd and Ronaldo parted ways on Tuesday after the player had slammed the club in an interview with Piers Morgan.

Ronaldo has been relegated to the bench for much of this season under new manager Erik ten Hag, and he let rip to Morgan, taking aim at the owners, manager, and some former players and teammates.

READ: BREAKING: Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Man Utd with immediate effect

"The progress was zero. Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club," Ronaldo said in what the Glazers, in ownership since 2005, might have taken as the most stinging criticism of their reign. "Nothing had changed. I think the fans should know the truth.

"As Picasso said, you have to destroy it to rebuild it and if they start with me, for me, it's not a problem. I love Manchester United, I love the fans, they're always on my side. But if they want to do it different… they have to change many, many things."

And now the biggest possible change in nearly two decades could be upon the club with the Glazers reportedly no ready to sell.

READ: Ronaldo labels Man Utd an ‘AMATEUR’ club: The details

Full-blown auction

"The Glazer family is preparing to formally announce its intention to examine potential sources of outside investment that could include a full-blown auction of arguably the world's most famous football club," report Sky News.

"Sources said on Tuesday that investment bankers were being instructed by Manchester United's owners to advise on the process, which is likely to include a full or partial sale, or strategic partnership with third parties."

The Glazers bought United for close to £800 million (€923m) in 2005 after Malcom, the patriarch of the family, borrowed nearly £500m (€577m) to complete his takeover. The Red Devils have more recently been valued at £3.86 billion (€4.5bn), which would represent a huge profit for the family.