Avram Glazer Stands Firm: No Sale for Manchester United Amid £1 Billion Debt Crisis

In a defiant stance, Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer has emphatically ruled out selling the club, despite its spiraling financial troubles and a debt now exceeding £1 billion. Speaking to Sky Sports in Miami on February 22, 2025, Glazer delivered a resolute one-word answer—“No”—when asked if he would consider offloading the Premier League giant, quashing any hopes among fans longing for a change in ownership.

The statement came on the same day United released a grim quarterly financial report, exposing £731 million in financial liabilities and £300 million in unpaid transfer fees. The club also disclosed £14.5 million in severance costs tied to the departures of manager Erik ten Hag and sporting director Dan Ashworth, further straining its coffers. Revenue dropped 12% year-on-year to £198.7 million, while net finance costs ballooned to £37.6 million due to unfavorable foreign exchange shifts on U.S. dollar loans, leaving United with a £27.7 million quarterly loss despite an EBITDA of £70.5 million.

Glazer’s refusal to sell stands in stark contrast to mounting fan frustration, rooted in the Glazer family’s 2005 leveraged buyout that saddled United with debt. Recent moves under Sir Jim Ratcliffe—whose INEOS group holds a 28.94% stake—have only deepened the discontent, with ticket price increases, 250 staff layoffs, and the impending end to Sir Alex Ferguson’s £2 million-a-year ambassador role. Glazer dodged questions about these cuts, noting he was on his way to meet President Donald Trump and deeming it “inappropriate” to discuss further.

Fan groups like The 1958 and the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) are planning protests ahead of the March 9 Arsenal match, decrying what they call “financial mismanagement” and demanding a ticket price freeze. The club’s losses over the past three years total £300 million, and with United languishing in 15th place in the Premier League, pressure is mounting.

Elsewhere, INEOS is entangled in sponsorship disputes, negotiating an early exit from a Tottenham Hotspur deal and facing legal action from New Zealand Rugby over unpaid funds. Yet United maintains its 2025 revenue guidance of £650 million to £670 million, with adjusted EBITDA projected at £145 million to £160 million, insisting it complies with league financial rules. For now, Glazer’s unwavering “No” signals that the Glazer era at Old Trafford is far from over, regardless of the mounting challenges.

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