The Astonishing Truth: Manchester United's Toy-like Treatment Under the Desperate Glazers—An Impending Sale?

Gary Neville has strongly criticized the Glazers, accusing them of mishandling Manchester United and treating the club as nothing more than a mere "toy" throughout the entire takeover controversy. Despite this, the potential buyers are still interested in acquiring United and believe that the club is still available for purchase.

The Glazers reportedly intend to temporarily remove Man Utd from the market, as stated in a Mail on Sunday report. They plan to subsequently re-offer the club for sale in 2025, anticipating that its value of £7bn-£10bn will be achieved. The parties involved in the takeover negotiations, such as merchant bank Raine, have not been informed of any alterations.

Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe were the sole contenders towards the end of the acquisition procedure, although they failed to meet the Glazers' valuation. According to our sources, they were aiming for £6bn.

Following Arsenal's thrilling 3-1 win over United at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, Neville expressed severe condemnation towards the club's administration.

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"They view it simply as a game, as though it's merely a toy!" Neville stated. "No wonder they're inclined to sell; they're in dire need of money.

"They can no longer contend in terms of Financial Fair Play. When it comes to the transfer market, Manchester United is speaking in a manner that resembles a mediocre team. Despite Manchester United's annual revenue of £500m, making them one of the most lucrative clubs in the world.

"Both Chelsea and Arsenal have the capability to acquire top-notch players, while Manchester United is struggling due to financial fair play regulations. I acknowledge that they have suffered losses due to the Covid pandemic, which could be used as an explanation.

Today's match was extraordinary, however, it does not alter the fact that the club is being manipulated by owners of one of the largest clubs globally. I will continue to address this issue since it poses a significant problem."

Rice was signed for these moments...

During the Gary Neville Podcast, the ex-Manchester United defender discussed several topics including his evaluation of Arsenal's chances of winning the title after an intense conclusion. Moreover, he offered his thoughts on Rasmus Hojlund's first appearance and praised Tottenham for their impressive performance under Ange Postecoglou at the beginning of the season.

It would feel like a significant victory for Arsenal, bringing in more than three points. This outcome is truly brilliant for the team's morale, while undoubtedly causing despair for the opposing team. For Arsenal, it is truly magnificent.

The goal scored by Declan Rice holds immense importance. As the star signing of the summer, it is crucial for Rice to find his footing and adapt quickly.

He has recently established a strong connection with the entire stadium, if he hadn't already.

Considering the significant investment Arsenal made in the summer and their performance last year, they will undoubtedly aim to be in a similar position with 10 games remaining, where they can once again demonstrate their ability to reach the top.

Manchester City is an exceptional team, and being four points behind them even after four games is unacceptable. They have the ability to punish you and apply immense pressure.

Arsenal must continue to perform at the same level they did today [Sunday], as there will be no room for relaxation.

They had a blazing start to last season, performing unbelievably well in the first half. However, their performance declined towards the end.

Despite not being at their peak, securing 10 out of 12 points is commendable. It is crucial for them to find their form post-Christmas, particularly in February and March.

They should improve their performance currently, but there's no need to stress too much about it right now, considering that they have recently added new players, Kai Havertz and Rice, to the team.

I wouldn't be overly concerned; in fact, I find it encouraging that they have managed to secure 10 out of 12 points.

The goal from Declan Rice was a significant moment, as that is precisely why he was brought onto the team. Though I predicted Arsenal to win the Premier League title this season, it is a highly unlikely outcome.

Matches like these require players of great calibre. Roy Keane was renowned for motivating his Manchester United squad. Even if he didn't personally score the winning goal, we would never doubt that the triumph was the only possible result.

I think Declan Rice plays every minute of a football match thinking a draw is a bad result. That's a really important factor.

You're signing these players for the big moments in the big matches.

Manchester United's defensive performance this season reached its peak during this match. They faced the toughest opponents yet, with Arsenal proving to be superior to Tottenham. The team displayed increased cohesion and thoroughness, especially through the efforts of Antony and Marcus Rashford on the wings. Notably, both full-backs, Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, showcased exceptional defensive prowess.

United's performance today exudes a notable level of seriousness. With Garnacho's successful goal, it epitomized a flawless away performance, having endured immense pressure and managing to score. Surprisingly, they surpassed their season record by amassing an astounding 200 passes within their own half during the first 45 minutes alone, a number they have never achieved in a complete match prior to this.

Arsenal's decision to allow them to do so came as a surprise to me. Being the away team, United aimed to stifle the game.

To a great extent, they succeeded in their endeavor. Rashford secured a goal on the counterattack, and by half-time, they would have been satisfied with their performance.

Erik ten Hag would have been proud of his players' performance until the 94th minute. In the past, they were rightly criticized for their terrible away record against other top nine teams. Last season, they only managed to collect one point out of the 24 points available, which is extremely poor.

The last 10 minutes were crucial for them, but once again they failed to meet expectations. This lingering thought will overshadow the outcome of the game. Despite the immense disappointment, if I analyze it objectively, certain aspects of their performance were noticeably improved compared to their matches against Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, and Wolves. On those occasions, they were often convincingly defeated.

I witnessed a team displaying defensive qualities today, which greatly affects the outcome of matches and influences our mindset. However, Arsenal showed moments of passivity.

The primary concern now lies with their defense as they experienced the departures of Raphael Varane and, more recently, Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez at center-back. This presents a significant problem. On a positive note, the midfield performed better today, and the inclusion of Sofyan Amrabat will enhance their gameplay. Thus far, Manchester United's performance has been subpar compared to the expected standard.

On Rasmus Hojlund's debut...

Without a doubt [he was ready for a confrontation]. Even though he had only been on the field for 25 minutes, he immediately stood up against Gabriel, attempting to intimidate and challenge him by deliberately positioning himself close to him.

Manchester United lack that element when Marcus Rashford operates as a striker, and the same goes for Anthony Martial. They do, however, possess a distinct alternative with him in the lineup. Although it was a challenging match for him to enter, his contribution towards the disallowed goal showcased an exquisite and clever flick to Casemiro.

Premier League football has provided him with today's experience, showing him that even when performing well at the highest level, one can still end up losing in the final minute. He has now learned the heartbreaking feeling of losing at the very last moment. The players in the locker room will undoubtedly be filled with regret and questioning how it all happened.

Hojlund is subjected to high expectations, but we must keep in mind that he is merely a 20-year-old who is just beginning his journey in the game. United's struggles in scoring goals and their inconsistent attacking performance have placed immense pressure on him, largely due to his price tag.

I feel it's a little bit too much so we have to let him breathe and evolve. He's at a big club like Manchester United so he will be judged straightaway.

Is something building at Tottenham?

When we visited Tottenham a few weeks ago, it happened to be a Saturday night, coinciding with their match against Man Utd. Back then, I expressed my belief that this season would bring immense enjoyment due to Ange Postecoglou's playing style.

Postecoglou's approach resonates perfectly with the aspirations of Tottenham fans and aligns with their long-term vision for the club. However, a minor setback occurred when they were eliminated from the Carabao Cup during the midweek, though its significance was somewhat overlooked as people's attention was diverted elsewhere.

This is one of the two trophies they could potentially win. To transform the club's fortunes and secure a championship, this is one of the two they must prioritize.

However, in the league, they have excelled. They are playing captivating football, a style that Spurs fans truly believe in.