Manchester United fans speculate after club legends Edwin van der Sar and Robin van Persie are spotted at Old Trafford for the first game since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover
- Edwin van der Sar and Robin van Persie present at Old Trafford on Tuesday
- Fans speculated that their return could be related to the recent partial takeover news
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Manchester United fans have speculated on social media after two former players of the club were spotted at Old Trafford.
Edwin van der Sar and Robin van Persie were both pictured from the stands as United took on Aston Villa, while Erik ten Hag looked to end a three-match winless streak.
Also at Old Trafford was INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford just days after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.3 billion partial takeover was officially announced by the club following months of speculation.
Van der Sar previously worked as CEO of Ajax and was chairman of the club between 2016 and 2023.
The 53-year-old Champions League winner worked alongside Erik ten Hag at the Eredivisie club, with Ajax securing three league titles in that time and also reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2018/19 season.
Robin van Persie and Edwin van der Sar were present at the match between Manchester United and Aston Villa
INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford also looked on days after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's partial takeover was announced
The presence of the Dutch club legends led some supporters to theorize that they could be called upon by Ratcliffe to work on football activities.
One wrote: 'Edwin and RVP are at the match and following Sir Jim's next match is an interesting turn of events. I doubt it's just a coincidence.”
Another wrote: 'Van der Sar and Van Persie in the stands, what could this mean?'
Another supporter added: 'Is INEOS giving Van Der Sar a role? This seems very coincidental?'
Supporters speculated that the former United stars' return to Old Trafford could be linked to the £1.3 billion deal
One fan appealed to Ratcliffe to give Van der Sar a position on the United board: 'Get Van der Sar on the board, what a big move from SJR that would be.'
Van der Sar resigned as CEO of Ajax in May, ending a period of more than ten years on the club's board of directors.
In July he was rushed to hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage while on holiday in Croatia.
After spending time in intensive care, the former goalkeeper was repatriated to his native Netherlands before continuing his recovery from home.
