Teddy Sheringham brands Avram Glazer’s Man Utd claim ‘disgusting’

Teddy Sheringham has called Avram Glazer’s claim that Manchester United do not need to win to make money “disgusting”, and warned that it could come back to haunt the Glazer family.

The treble winner’s attack on the co-owner comes at the worst possible time for United’s hierarchy. The club are 18th in the Premier League, and Michael Carrick’s future is being decided in Monaco today.

What Avram Glazer said

The row goes back to a report in The Athletic on 5 November. It said Glazer told financiers at Deutsche Bank’s first Sports Investment Conference in London, in September, that United “are not dependent on success on the pitch for commercial power”.

According to sources at the event, he compared the club to the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys, global brands that have held their value through long spells without major honours. We covered the reaction when Glazer’s commercial claim emerged amid fan protests.

It echoes a line from former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who once told a shareholder that “playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact” on United’s commercial business.

‘It’s disgusting’

Sheringham’s equaliser in the 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona set up Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s winner. He gave his reaction to BOYLE Sports in comments carried by TEAMtalk.

“It was a very blase remark from Avram Glazer but that’s to be expected. They’ve earned too much money out of Manchester United and that statement just says it all, doesn’t it? ‘Well, we’re all right, we don’t need to be winning trophies at the moment.’ It’s disgusting. This is what a great football club like Manchester United has been reduced to.”

Sheringham believes winning, and winning in style, is why United have fans in every corner of the world.

“That isn’t going to last if the owners think the football is no longer important,” he said. “It’s already dwindling.”

His starkest warning was about relegation. Sheringham said the owners would “get a big shock when United fall down into the Championship” if they believe supporters will keep spending the same money on merchandise.

“I’m very shocked that at this moment in particular for one of the owners to come out and say something like that,” he added. “I think that could come back to haunt the Glazers in a massive way.”

Does Glazer have a point?

On the numbers, partly. United generated £333.3 million in commercial revenue in 2024/25, a season in which they finished 15th in the Premier League, according to The People’s Person.

But that is the problem for supporters. The more the club proves it can make money without winning, the less pressure there is on the owners to fix the football.

Are the Glazers ready to sell?

Football finance expert Stefan Borson told talkSPORT that he understands the Glazers are now open to selling. He said a senior figure in the game had told him “there is a process and that they are for sale”.

Borson suggested the family may be keeping things quiet this time, after their last public process ended with Sir Jim Ratcliffe buying a minority stake. He also warned they “will only go when their price is met”. The club has not confirmed anything.

What comes next for Man Utd

The Glazers’ role is about to come under the spotlight again. Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox meet in Monaco today, and any decision to sack Carrick needs the Glazer family’s sign-off. It may not be confirmed until Thursday, according to the Manchester Evening News.

United have already been in contact with Mauricio Pochettino about replacing him. For supporters, hearing a hero of 1999 voice their anger at the owners will feel like vindication.

Avram Glazer: FAQs

What did Avram Glazer say about Man Utd?
He told investors in September that United are not dependent on success on the pitch for their commercial power, comparing them to the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys.

What did Teddy Sheringham say about Avram Glazer?
Sheringham called the comments “disgusting” and warned they could come back to haunt the Glazers.

Are the Glazers selling Man Utd?
Finance expert Stefan Borson says they are open to a sale. The club has not confirmed anything.

Who owns Man Utd?
The Glazer family are the majority owners. Sir Jim Ratcliffe owns a minority stake and runs football operations through Ineos.