Glazers make shock Manchester United move as Cristiano Ronaldo sends message
The Glazer family has not received their semi-annual dividend from  Manchester United, according to the club’s most recent financial statistics.
The Glazer family indicated on November 22 that they are willing to end their 17-and-a-half-year ownership of United as part of “a process to examine strategic alternatives for the club.”
United paid £33.6million in dividends, primarily to the Glazer family, in the last financial reports released in September for the year ending June 30, 2022. This was an increase of over £20 million from the previous year.
According to sources, the decision was influenced by reasons such as the summer’s substantial investment in the squad. United spent £225,4 million on players during the last transfer window.
United supporters have criticized the Glazer family for siphoning off the club rather than investing in it because the most recent dividend payments brought the total to £155 million over a period of seven years.
It is the first time since 2016 that the Glazers have not received dividends. Earlier this year, a fan probed chief executive Richard Arnold on the justification for dividend payments.
“Dividends are a mechanism for providing a return to investors, including pension funds and thousands of small investors and fan shareholders, based on long-term profitability,” Arnold explained at the time.
“While the pandemic has impacted recent financial performance, we were consistently profitable in the years beforehand and we expect to be again in future.
“Our five-year average dividend yield of 1.1%, compares with average of 1.7% for S&P 500 and 3.9% for FTSE 100 companies. Our dividend policy is subject to annual review by the Board of Directors.”
Joel Glazer has not attended a United game since the quarterfinal against Barcelona at Old Trafford in April 2019, while Avram Glazer, his brother and another co-chairman, has only visited one United game in the last three years.
United’s revenue has climbed by 13.6%, while its commercial revenue has increased by 35.7%, from £64.4 million to £87.4 million, according to the club’s records.
United traveled to Thailand and Australia for their first preseason tour in three years, where they played four games in Bangkok, Melbourne, and Perth.
The club’s debt remains at $650 million (£530.1 million).
Cristiano Ronaldo’s sends a defiant message
Cristiano Ronaldo stated that the Portugal squad is a “group too close to be broken by outside forces” in response to rumors that he planned to leave the national team during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Portugal advanced to the quarterfinals of the event after defeating Switzerland 6-1 to set up a meeting with Morocco in the last eight. Former Manchester United forward Ronaldo remained in the news as manager Fernando Santos took the bold decision not to start him in the game.
It was the first time since 2008 that Ronaldo did not start an international knockout match, but Santos’ decision was vindicated when his replacement, the youthful striker Goncalo Ramos, scored the opening goal and went on to score an outstanding hat trick. The No. 7 substituted in the last minutes and scored before the offside flag nullified the goal.
Ronaldo didn’t appreciate being benched by Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, which finally led to his abrupt exit last month after his conversation with Piers Morgan, and rumors suggested history was repeating itself in Qatar.
Santos and some of Ronaldo’s teammates denied this, but Portuguese outlet Record reported on Thursday that the 37-year-old threatened to leave the national team after being informed he would not be starting in the last 16 match.
Ronaldo responded to the story by tweeting a rallying appeal for the team and its fans.
It read: “A group too close to be broken by outside forces. A nation too brave to let itself be frightened by any adversary.
“A team in the truest sense of the word, which will fight for the dream until the end! Believe with us! Strength, Portugal!”
The Portuguese Football Federation also moved quickly to deny the story. A statement said: “At no time did Cristiano Ronaldo threaten to leave the national team during the stay in Qatar. Cristiano Ronaldo builds up a unique track record every day at the service of the national team and the country, which must be respected,” added the FPF.
“The degree of dedication of the player most capped by Portugal was again demonstrated – if necessary – in the victory against Switzerland, in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup.”
Glazers make shock Manchester United move as Cristiano Ronaldo sends message
