Thread by @mnuupdates

Sporting Lisbon for Bruno Fernandes demanded €80 million (£71.5 million). Woodward went in much lower but stipulating that United will pay the full asking price if certain performance clauses are met. Most likely, United will end up paying about €65m [Athletic] #MUFC #MS

Although the Glazers have been credited with the decision to increase Old Trafford’s capacity to 76,000 by developing the north-west and north-east quadrants of the stadium, planning permission and construction contracts were already in place before the takeover. [Athletic] #MUFC

But they have given up on the stadium.They realised the cost, probably £1 billion, is too much to justify. It’s not like the Emirates or Tottenham, where you can sell boxes for big money — there just isn’t the market for that in Manchester. [Athletic] #MUFC #MS

The concourses are very tired and the customer service is terrible. At Manchester City, the security guards treat you like a valued customer. At United, they just growl at you. That’s a culture thing and it comes from the top.”[Athletic] #MUFC #MS

A robust quarterly fans’ forum resulted in rail-seating being approved for trial, with 1,500 seats installed in time for the 2020-21 season, and the introduction of a singing section in the Stretford End which led to an improved atmosphere in the ground. [Athletic] #MUFC #MS

The “Love United Hate Glazers” motto was plastered around Manchester at the time but in truth, the Glazers were unperturbed by stickers, scarves, or songs. [Athletic] #MUFC #MS

United sources feel the Glazers have added £3bn in value to the club. At such a figure on paper, let alone what the Glazers would demand, it raises a question: who can afford to buy United now? [Athletic] #MUFC #MS

“I am sure they would walk if someone offered them $5 billion and I suspect $3.5 billion would start a conversation” adds an informed source.“It will have to be a state, unless Jeff Bezos fancies it,” says another. [Athletic] #MUFC #MS

"They want a ridiculous amount of money to get lost and there just aren’t many buyers out there at that price. They are hanging around to see if Apple, Netflix, Facebook or someone like that really gets into live sport and supercharges the valuations again.” [Athletic] #MUFC #MS

There is scope for a wealthy collection of individuals to gather, in the manner of Fenway Sports Group, who own Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox. However, such an endeavour would require coordination, compromise, and lots and lots of cash. [Athletic] #MUFC #MS