Manchester United WAGs might have to kiss goodbye to their swanky freebie jaunts to the FA Cup final at Wembley this year as the club’s new austerity measures threaten to slash the perks.
Red Devils’ staff have been given the cold shoulder too, with no extra tickets for their families, no complimentary grub or transport for the big game against arch-rivals Manchester City on May 25. The club’s 1,100 employees will get just a single free ticket each and are expected to cough up £20 for coach travel down to the capital.
This penny-pinching move is rumoured to be part of multi-billionaire new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s plan to tighten the purse strings at Old Trafford despite United sitting pretty as the world’s fifth wealthiest football club. Gone are the days of fancy hotel stays, exclusive bashes and paid-for flights for player’s kin that United used to splash out on.
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Whispers from within the club suggest there’ll be “no official trip” for the WAGs to this year’s showdown, leaving them to foot the bill for their own travel. The final decision on the matter “was yet to be made”, reports the Mirror.
United stars like Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro can usually count on their WAGs for support from the stands. Maguire, 31, especially, might need to sort out a whopping eight seats for his wife Fern, 29, their two little ones, his parents and his two brothers, who usually never miss a match.
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The players’ partners did however get to enjoy a lavish day out at Harvey Nichols on the club’s dime, much to the anger of staff who are struggling to make ends meet.
The luxurious shopping trip came just 24 hours after United workers were informed via email that they would have to pay for their own travel to Wembley. The email claimed the decision was made in a bid to “spend the club’s money effectively”.
But the club’s apparent financial concerns haven’t stopped them from splashing out on a WAGs shopping spree. Players’ wives and girlfriends, including Shaw’s girlfriend Anouska Santos, Lindelof’s wife Maja, Martinez’s partner Muri Lopez and Casemiro’s wife Anna Mariana, were among those enjoying the day out.
(Image: Anna Mariana CASEMIRO Instagram)
The decision to prioritise the WAGs over the staff has understandably caused outrage among employees. United’s revenue reached £640million last year, but net debt, including a credit revolving facility, has hit £710m since the Glazers’ leveraged buyout.
The club’s financial struggles have also been exacerbated by disappointing results on the pitch, resulting in missed opportunities to win trophies and secure prize money. Despite their high position in the football riches league, fans have had to endure a stadium that leaks profusely in the rain.
During United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, footage emerged of water pouring through the roof and cascading through the stands. Similar leaks were also reported in the Arsenal dressing room.
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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns in a huge clash this month with each fighter attempting to etch their names in boxing history as the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999. The stakes couldn’t be higher as the pair will go head to head for the prestigious WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF titles.
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The club’s decision to send the WAGs on a shopping spree while staff face financial hardship is the latest example of the Glazers’ controversial ownership. Fans have long called for their departure, citing the club’s decline in fortunes since their takeover in 2005.
It remains to be seen whether the latest incident will reignite calls for change at Old Trafford. However, one thing is certain: the Glazers’ ownership continues to divide opinion among Manchester United supporters.
Workmen have been snapped doing the rounds on the stadium roof, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe, aged 72 and fresh from splashing out a cool £1.2billion for a quarter share of Man Utd, spills the beans on his grand plans to erect a spanking new “Wembley of the North” to take the place of Old Trafford.
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But the Red Devils are slamming the brakes on any quick fix for their leaky roof until they’ve made up their minds about Sir Jim’s big idea. The club’s bigwigs have had a gander at what it would take to stick a new roof on, but with a hefty price tag attached, they’re not rushing in while Sir Jim’s visions are still on the table.
Tearing down Old Trafford and throwing up a shiny new arena right where it stood could bleed the coffers dry to the tune of £3 billion. Then there’s the option to give the iconic venue a facelift, which wouldn’t hit the wallet as hard as a total teardown, nor drag on as long as constructing a fresh one that’s pegged at around £1 billion.