Saudi Takeover - Claim deal done

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SteveJ

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But you forgot they live under Sharia laws.

I am not going to argue whether those laws are good or not (it’s based on religion, and religion is not something that may be labeled as “right” or “wrong”).

Yet, under Sharia laws, it is illegal to be a representative of LGBT, for example. I am not a specialist in Islam, but, apparently, their religion doesn’t allow it.

On the one hand, one needs to respect others’ human rights. On the other hand, one must also respect others’ laws and religious requirements. In this particular case of Saudi Arabia, there is certainly a contradiction
I'm not an atheist so I've no bias against religion it's possible to examine the foundations of organised religion and recognise it for it essentially is: a system of power and control buttressed by authoritative texts expediently composed and edited.
 

Womp

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And whose fault is that? I personally think we the fans have to take the most blame for allowing it to go this far and also for not being vocal enough about making sure the club is ran properly. Because there is no football without the fans, however it's been a steady process of becoming a game for the rich only.
I don't entirely agree, I don't think the club really gives a shit what the fans think. We've had the protests etc. and they haven't even blinked an eye, they are untouchable and they determine how the club functions.

At the end of the day, we love the club and they love money. It's a terrible combination, but it's what will keep bringing people back for more.
 

dev1l

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If Glazers sell the club to the Saudi I LL hate them even more. Not that it would make a difference...
 

devilish

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Mental gymnastics.

United have always been more than a football club, even in spite of the Glazers, they have been pretty much silent owners allowing Ferguson, Charlton and co to front the club.

All that will change with Saudi owners, the club won’t be our Manchester United anymore. It will be a ridiculous show piece for an oppressive regime. Any success and the first people you will see on screen will be the Saudis congratulating themselves.

Old Trafford and the surrounding area will be redeveloped and money will flow in, just like it did around Eastlands and in return the Saudis will lobby the government to keep selling them arms to keep throwing their weight around against their neighbours.

But as long as we’re fighting for the title all that can be looked over right?
I hear you but for the record the club isn't ours even under the Glazers.
 

DoomSlayer

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The blame lies with the FA,UEFA,FIFA,the British government and opposition fans.

United fans did as much as we could to get the Glazers out but all of the above didn't lift a finger to help us.
I don't want to say anything extreme and disrespect you unintentionally, because I've made that mistake before. But do you believe what was done during those "green and gold" times was enough to actually achieve anything?

I still can't understand why the local fans do not regularly boycott games and publicly protest against how our club is ran outside of Old Trafford. Surely with the current extremely fast flow of information, it would be much easier to organise and gather the people. We have official fan organisations, communities, non-profit organisations, there are also many of those outside of England as well. We the fans have the power, we just have never used it properly.
 

twitchchris

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This, I'm mortified at how many people are perfectly happy at being owned by a state that is responsible for so much brutality and oppression. As much as I dislike the Glazer ownership, at least they are "just" businessmen that don't go around having their rivals murdered.
Agreed.

The Glazers may be awful, but they've never been implicated in the brutal, torture/murder of a critic.
 

thegregster

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I don't want to say anything extreme and disrespect you unintentionally, because I've made that mistake before. But do you believe what was done during those "green and gold" times was enough to actually achieve anything?

I still can't understand why the local fans do not regularly boycott games and publicly protest against how our club is ran outside of Old Trafford. Surely with the current extremely fast flow of information, it would be much easier to organise and gather the people. We have official fan organisations, communities, non-profit organisations, there are also many of those outside of England as well. We the fans have the power, we just have never used it properly.
The Green and Gold protest was enough.

It's not up to fans to regulate. That's the job of the government,FA,UEFA,FIFA etc.
 
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DoomSlayer

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I don't entirely agree, I don't think the club really gives a shit what the fans think. We've had the protests etc. and they haven't even blinked an eye, they are untouchable and they determine how the club functions.

At the end of the day, we love the club and they love money. It's a terrible combination, but it's what will keep bringing people back for more.
So our situation is like a woman that has a scumbag of a husband, who beats her regularly and treats her bad, but she loves the children and wants them to have a family to grow up in, so she puts up with it and still doesn't file for a divorce or go to the authorities.

If people truly have a problem with how our club is ran, they will walk out of the stadium and protest outside, make a public demonstration so the whole world can see what our feelings really are like. Like I said, football clubs are not just about what happens on the pitch and inside the stadium. But the fans that are closest to the club can be the spearhead to a whole movement if we are all actually serious about it. Otherwise, my conclusion would be that many of the local fans somehow benefit from the status quo and that is the reason why they decide to stay silent.
 

Xaviboy

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Be grand. We will have 500 million to spend and Ole will still have Longstaff as his top target for summer window and we will end up paying 80 million for him as Newcastle held out and got what they want.
 

gulli_G

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@UncleSamad_: Lmaooooooo a Saudi guy bought Manchester United. That doesn't mean anything yet but money will flow and maybe someone would start planning things properly. We move. https://t.co/0adErzKde7

He will always be a yes man, :lol:
 

devilish

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The same guy that claimed the Saudis have puchased United on his LinkedIn account.
So he's a nobody really.

For all its worth, I think the Saudis will own the club in the near future.

a- they love football and we're the biggest brand out there
b- The Glazers will want a ridiculous amount of money for the club + they will handle a club whose got a mid table quality team, no football coaching infrastructure (no DOF, no sporting director, no manager, poor coaching staff etc) and a stadium that leaks water. That requires a huge amount of investment that very few entities can afford including the Glazers himself (ie the rebuilding process will be expensive). The money we generate is not enough to turn us into a good buy
c- there's no smoke without fire and these rumours had been going on for quite some time
d- Sponsorships don't handle money out of Lulz. They do so that they can be linked with a successful brand name with great exposure. I doubt many top sponsors are happy with United sitting out of the CL for the next 2-3 years. Once the money dries out, the club will get a hit and so would the Glazers. Its better for them to sell out before it happens especially considering how much debt they keep shifting on us
e- the Saudis have a perfect story here ie the biggest football club in history, whose struggling to return to its former best only for them to swoop in and make it great all over again. The fact that those who are poorly managing us have Jewish origins also plays well to their narrative as Jews aren't really liked in that part of world.

The owner who'll take us will need to have the financial clout to be taken to the cleaners by the Glazers and then invest heavily on the squad or be able to afford not to take a penny out of the club up until the rebuilding is complete. He must also be able to invest heavily in a short period of time as players are not patient and would ask to leave unless success comes to their way. That requires a ridiculous amount of money and little to no accountability towards bankers or shareholders.
 
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DoomSlayer

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The Green and Gold protest was enough.

It's not up to fans to regulate. That's the job of the government,FA,UEFA,FIFA etc.

All fans should be protesting about how clubs can be bought and saddled with huge debts or taken over by owners with bad human rights records.
I disagree. Morality does not equal legality, so it's up to us as fans to regulate the former and leave the latter to the institutions. As far as I know, there is no legal problems when it comes to the Glazers, the issues come when we talk about club operations, organisation, efficient financing and proper planning for the future, short, medium and long-term. This is what we can control and demand to be made appropriate to our status as the biggest club in England, whilst also aligning it with our history and not disrespecting the club values.
 

McGrathsipan

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Its a dark day if this happens.
The last signs of a traditional football club will be stamped out forever.

Manchester United football club will truly be dead
 

JJ12

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Its a dark day if this happens.
The last signs of a traditional football club will be stamped out forever.

Manchester United football club will truly be dead
feck me. Some proper drama queens follow this club.
 

westmeath

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If true (and it looks almost inevitable) I’m out. Could never support the club if it’s a reputation laundering tool for as evil a bunch as the Saudis. If they revert to proper commercial ownership then I’ll come back. I hate the glazers but they are legitimate commercial owners.
 

Roboc7

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No truth to it just inevitable rumours because club representatives are visiting the country as they have done numerous times before which have prompted exact same rumours previously.
 

thegregster

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I disagree. Morality does not equal legality, so it's up to us as fans to regulate the former and leave the latter to the institutions. As far as I know, there is no legal problems when it comes to the Glazers, the issues come when we talk about club operations, organisation, efficient financing and proper planning for the future, short, medium and long-term. This is what we can control and demand to be made appropriate to our status as the biggest club in England, whilst also aligning it with our history and not disrespecting the club values.
Correct. Nothing illegal in how the Glazers took United over or have run the club.

But all it would have taken to stop it would be for the FA,UEFA,FIFA,British government etc to ban levered buyouts.

But they couldnt care less.

GOVERNMENT trade officials have rejected demands by MP Tony Lloyd to protect Manchester United from American tycoon Malcolm Glazer.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ma...ews/mp-battles-on-in-glazer-fight-1057439.amp


Maybe talk of a Saudi takeover might wake up the people with power. But I won't hold my breath.
 

JJ12

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No truth to it just inevitable rumours because club representatives are visiting the country as they have done numerous times before which have prompted exact same rumours previously.
The sale of the biggest club in the world isnt going to be negotiated in one visit. I think the fact it's been numerous visits is exactly why it's inevitable.
 

Lentwood

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I don’t get all this moral high-ground stuff....the club and football in general sold its soul a long, long time ago.

Its sport. You’re either winners or you’re losers. If we’re going to start handing out points based on the morality of the owners believe every club in the league may struggle to get into double figures!

So many posters decrying this would be the end of Manchester Utd, as if this current incarnation bears a great deal of resemblance to Utd pre-Premier League

Football has changed. It’s sad, it really is. But I would suggest your only two options are embrace it and focus on what happens ON the pitch or watch non-League football
 

Rakaposhi

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Great news. This could completely change the currently mostly negative coverage of MUFC.

TV pundits and journalists will think twice before articulating any criticism of MUFC since your new owners could send a hit squad with a bone saw any time they feel like it.
 

AneRu

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Ultimately, it doesn't matter how the fans feel about it. There will always be enough who don't care about it to fill the stadiums and after some success, others will come back if that decision was a breaking point in the first place. Only money talks, and the Saudis have plenty of it. If the offer is right, it will happen but seriously doubt it would be a quick transaction like it's made out to be.
Certainly, people are entitled to have concerns and reconsider their support of the club but the club, the Glazers and the buyers won't care much about that because they way I see it fan opinion is split down the middle. Some would welcome the Saudis just to get rid of the Glazers whilst some will be genuinely excited by the prospect of seeing United back amongst the big boys and signing the best players again.

Those who make decisions will know that there will be enough numbers to still make United the most followed team in the world and fill up ground. When success eventually comes then some will return and new fans will be gained.
 

Forevergiggs1

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Agreed.

The Glazers may be awful, but they've never been implicated in the brutal, torture/murder of a critic.
Maybe not but haven't they been working with them? Which is the same as advocating them. To the best of my knowledge Saudi Telecom communications has been our longest standing commercial sponsor which happens to be Saudi state owned. So it seems OK for the Glazers to be taking money from them but not OK if they bought the club.? Is there any difference?
 
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