Man United urged to abandon groundbreaking £8m plan – ‘it isn’t worth the risk’
Manchester United have been urged to abandon a plan which could earn them millions as it would negatively impact their Premier League form.
Ruben Amorim is under big pressure at Old Trafford, after an awful start to the season, which sees them 14th in the table after four games.
Man United were comfortably beaten by Manchester City in the derby last weekend (14 September), with a Phil Foden header and an Erling Haaland brace giving Pep Guardiola’s side a 3-0 win.
Despite the poor start, it’s been revealed that owner Jim Ratcliffe wants to organise mid-season friendlies against other sides who failed to qualify for Europe.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes the plan is concerning and would have unintended consequences.
Man United friendly plan will earn them £8m but it isn’t worth it
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that despite the fact these friendlies could earn Man United up to £8million per game, it is not worth the risk at all.
The likes of RB Leipzig, Lazio, AC Milan, and Sevilla are all potential opponents, with none of the sides qualifying for European competitions.
Wyness added that players could get injured and it wouldn’t help United win Premier League games, which should be the priority.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Yeah, I think it is concerning. Look, if I were the chief executive there just now, I’d be asking one question. Are these midweek friendlies going to help us on the football pitch become a better football team and win more games in the Premier League?
“That’s the only question I’d be asking. People tend to forget it’s a very simple game. You’re a football club and you’ve got to win football matches. It isn’t so much about the money.
“I’m sure they might get maybe £7m, £8m for a friendly if they went down to the Gulf during the week, and played some of the other clubs like AC Milan who aren’t in Europe this year.
“That’s all possible and it could be done. But is it going to help you on the football pitch in the Premier League? That’s the only thing that you’ve got to ask about. I’ve got to say, I don’t think it would.
“I think the upset of travelling midweek for those games, you might get injuries. Unexpected things happen with players competing for positions. Lots of things can happen, unintended consequences that can go wrong. I don’t think it’s worth the risk.
“I understand the Ratcliffe view on finances and so they may take that route. But as I say, the ultimate question for me is, will it help you win football matches? And I don’t think it will.”
Man United defender could quit
Meanwhile, Harry Maguire could reportedly quit Man United at the end of the season after entering the final year of his current contract.
That is according to their former chief scout, Mick Brown, who claims that Amorim is pushing the 32-year-old out with his tactics.
Man United dismissed enquiries about Maguire during the summer transfer window as he remained a key part of the manager’s plans for the season.
However, he has yet to start a Premier League game this season despite coming off the bench three times in an attempt for Amorim to turn results around.
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