Manchester United are forced to CLOSE their mega store as furious fans turn up outside Old Trafford to protest the takeover that drags on under the Glazers…as the club unveil their home shirt for next season
Manchester United have been forced to close their mega store on the day of the launch of their new home kit due to anti-Glazer protests from angry supporters.
Frustrated fans, furious at the club’s protracted takeover saga and ownership, blocked the megastore’s entrance to coincide with the launch of the new Adidas kit.
The 1958, the group behind the protest, claims the store closed at 10am shortly after the protest started at around 9:45am this morning.
Outside Old Trafford, a small group of fans were spotted holding anti-Glazer banners and flags. Bystanders reported a small but noisy crowd, who also sang songs against the controversial owners.
Mail Sport understands that the club has devised a way for fans wishing to get their hands on the new kit to access the megastore, with security assisting customers wishing to purchase the shirt, which costs £110 for the authentic matchday version and £80 for a replica.
Manchester United have unveiled their home kit for the 2023/24 Premier League season
United fans blocked the entrance to the megastore to coincide with the kit’s launch
Supporters angry at Glazer’s ownership of the club gathered outside Old Trafford
Police and security had gathered at Old Trafford to await protesting supporters, who were told on social media to assemble at the megastore from 9.45am on Tuesday morning.
The 1958, a group behind several anti-Glazer protests in recent months, had urged fans to come to the demonstration.
In an earlier Tweet, the group wrote, “Bring your anti-Glazer flags and banners! Be loud, be visual. We won’t stop until they’ve sold our club.’
Large swathes of the club’s backing are furious with the Glazers, with the process now in its eighth month starting last November.
With the new season seven weeks away, it remains to be seen whether Qatari sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani or British billionaire Sir Jim Ractliffe will be successful with their offers for United in what is essentially a two-horse race.
The American owners, who have taken more than £1bn out of the club since their leveraged takeover in 2005, have yet to make a choice – despite the deadline for final bids due at the end of April.
Initially, it was hoped that a possible acquisition – or investment – would be completed before the transfer window opened.
A small group of supporters brought flags and banners after being urged to attend the protest
Police and security have gathered outside Old Trafford to await protesting supporters
A group of Man United fans plan a protest against the Glazers (pictured – Avram and Joel) at the club’s megastore – amid growing frustration over the long-running takeover saga
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left) and Qatari Sheikh Jassim (right) are the two frontrunners in the process and have already submitted multiple bids to own the club
While United’s spending levels are unaffected, the lack of clarity over the club’s future does not help those trying to secure deals.
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Casemiro and Raphael Varane were among the United stars to model the new shirt.
The kit, featuring a pattern of Lancashire roses, was officially unveiled earlier on Tuesday. It was first revealed to the public in a leak by United fan and British rapper Aitch at Glastonbury.
The 23-year-old rapper wore a previously unseen United strip when seen on the Pyramid Stage on Saturday, although pictures of the shirt had leaked on social media months earlier.
Aitch wore a never-before-seen Manchester United shirt during his Glastonbury set
United confirmed ahead of the launch on Tuesday morning that the shirt Aitch donned for his performance on the Pyramid stage was the same shirt their men’s and women’s stars will be wearing for the coming season.
TeamViewer will remain the shirt sponsor, despite United mutually agreeing to end its partnership with the German tech firm in December. The club said TeamViewer would still be on the front of their kits until a new sponsor was found.
United and TeamViewer have reached an agreement giving United the option to buy back the rights to their shirt sponsorship once a new partner is signed.
Football Insider reported that the Red Devils are earning £47m per season from the TeamViewer deal – although Old Trafford’s finance team believe a new shirt sponsor could bring them more value.