Avram Glazer insists Man United's commercial power survives on-pitch collapse

Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer has broken his characteristic public silence to assert that the club’s commercial appeal is entirely independent of its performances on the pitch — a claim made as United languish in 19th place in the Premier League, escaping the bottom three only on goal difference.

Glazer made the remarks at Deutsche Bank’s inaugural Sports Investment Conference in London in September, addressing an audience of financiers. According to The Athletic, he drew comparisons between United and two of American sport’s most lucrative franchises — the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys — arguing that all three retain enormous global brand value despite prolonged periods without major silverware.

The comments arrive at a particularly turbulent moment for the club. United recorded their first win in ten attempts across all competitions on Tuesday, coming from 2-0 down to beat AS Roma 3-2 in the Champions League, easing some of the pressure on manager Michael Carrick. Yet even that victory did not silence the discontent inside the stadium, with supporters directing chants against the Glazers, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and other executives — a continuation of protests that have also marked recent Premier League defeats to Bournemouth and Chelsea.

Glazer’s central argument — that United’s commercial pull, which generates significant revenue for squad reinvestment, is decoupled from results — is likely to intensify rather than defuse fan frustration. Supporter groups have maintained sustained pressure on the ownership throughout this season, with calls for a full sale of the club growing louder as performances have deteriorated.

The Glazer family has faced years of criticism from United fans over their stewardship of the club, and Avram Glazer’s rare public intervention does little to address the sporting concerns at the heart of those protests. Whether the commercial resilience he described can outlast a prolonged run of poor form on the pitch remains an open question.