Zlatan Ibrahimovic has defended the Glazer family’s running of Manchester United — arguing that their transfer spending means they do not deserve criticism by fans.
The Glazers have been the target of long-running protests by United supporters who are demanding a change in ownership.
The Americans put United up for sale last November, with two two bids subsequently being lodged – one from the Qatari Sheikh Jassim, and another from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the British owner of petrochemicals giants Ineos.
The lack of progress over a sale has heightened speculation that the Glazers will ultimately choose not to sell, despite the groundswell of opposition among the fanbase.
But Ibrahimovic, who scored 17 goals in 33 appearances for United between 2016 and 2018, believes those attacks are not justified by the Glazers’ record of investment in the squad.
In an interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV, he said: “I think now in United… there are some kind of demonstrations about the owners to sell it. But just a reminder, the owners are investing.
“It is not like they are not investing because they brought in many players for a high amount of money, so I think it’s a little bit wrong saying that they are not doing what the fans expect them to do. I don’t know what the real reason is behind everything.”
Ibrahimovic, who retired in June after a career which also included spells with Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and LA Galaxy, also used the interview to aim a swipe at players who had moved to the Saudi Pro League.
The 42-year-old said he had no moral qualms over players going to Saudi but revealed he had turned down an offer to join the Pro League, which has attracted stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Fabinho, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson.
He said: “I had an offer from China, I had an offer also from Saudi, but the situation is, what do you want? What objectives do you have? Certain players need to finish their career on the big stage because that is the high end of your career. You have to be remembered for your talent, not for what you earned.
“So I think certain players that reach a certain level, they have to stop at a certain stage, and that’s the big stage.”
To watch the full interview go to Piers Morgan Uncensored on YouTube.
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The Manchester United owners not called Glazer
(Photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
