Gary Neville has slammed the Glazer family for 'playing' around in Manchester United's sale process.
His fury follows reports that Elliott Management, a US hedge fund which looks after assets worth an eye-watering $56billion (£46bn), has made it through to the second stage of the takeover process. That's despite Elliott not wanting to buy the club, unlike Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.
BBC Sport claims that representatives from the investment group, which previously owned Italian giants AC Milan, were present at Old Trafford on Thursday for the Red Devils' 4-1 win at home to Real Betis in the Europa League. While Elliott is not looking to buy a stake in United, it's said to be offering financial backing to all parties involved - including if the Glazer family choose to stay. It's been suggested that Elliott could assist with redeveloping Old Trafford and the club's Carrington training complex.
Neville isn't pleased with the hedge fund's potential involvement, though, taking aim at Red Devils co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer. Reacting to the news on Twitter, the former United captain wrote: "Nope! This looks like it's a Joel and Avi Glazer play to either 'stay in control' or 'force the other bidders up.' Go on their website. They aren't an owner of Manchester United!"
Neville's comments come after he expressed his fears over the Glazers potentially bringing in another investor and deciding against a full sale, which both brothers are understood to be reluctant towards in contrast to their four other siblings. "I am concerned about the rumours that some of the Glazer family don't want to sell," the ex-Red Devils right-back admitted on The Overlap.
"One of the rumours we heard about before Christmas was that they were going to stay, and try and find 'strategic investment', which is something FSG [Fenway Sports Group] have mentioned at Liverpool. That means you buy part of the family out, you leave Joel and Avi Glazer in, but Joel and Avi will retain control of the club. That's a nightmare scenario."
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Back in November, when the American family first put United on the market, a statement explained that the board were considering "all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions". INEOS chief executive Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim have made full takeover bids which are reported to be below the Glazers' £6billion asking price.
Those fronting Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim's respective offers are, according to the Daily Mail, expected to travel to Manchester next week for direct talks with the Red Devils hierarchy. They'll attend presentations covering topics such as the club's transfer policy, scouting and first-team operations, with football director John Murtough set to be a prominent figure.
