Ruben Amorim mingled happily with hundreds of Manchester United staff during a question and answer session at Old Trafford on Monday, but the mood at a Fan Advisory Board meeting being held elsewhere in the stadium was rather more tense.
Supporters are up in arms over ticket price rises, sparking a protest before Sunday’s win over Everton and abusive chants against the owners as fans turned on Sir Jim Ratcliffe for the first time.
The fear now is that it will inevitably lead to hikes in the cost of season tickets next season, potentially pricing some of those 55,000 fans out of the market.
Tickets for the Nottingham Forest home game – the first Premier League match where the new prices will be fully applied – initially went on general sale.
Seats for Premier League fixtures at Old Trafford are typically only sold to members and season ticket holders so the development suggested fans are voting with their feet following the hike to £66, before the club quickly reverted the sales process back to members.
Confidential understands that at Monday’s meeting the FAB lobbied the club to pause the decision to raise the cost of returned tickets that have been put on general sale to £66, while getting rid of concessions for kids and pensioners.
Man United fans protested outside Old Trafford on Sunday over a hike in ticket prices
The banner was also held up inside the ground and fans fear they are not being listened to
Fans have made their feelings clear to part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that they are furious with ticket price rises
United acknowledge that they briefed the FAB rather than consulted them. It’s believed an email was sent out last week to the club’s fans forum, followed by a conference call to FAB which resulted in the price rise being delayed by 24 hours before coming into effect for the Everton game.
‘That’s not a consultation,’ said a spokesman for the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust who have two members on the board, ahead of Monday’s meeting.
‘There have been informal discussions with the club since and they have showed no sign of backing down. These ticket price rises are egregious and outrageous.
‘The £1.5million they will make from it is meaningless, but the precedent is set for season ticket rises next year. There are payable in one lump sum in May or June, and £66-a-game would be an enormous increase. Manchester isn’t London and it comes at a time of continuing financial strain in this country.
‘The financial problems are down to the Glazers but how you deal with that is on Sir Jim Ratcliffe. We’ve made strides under him but this has put us back to square one. It’s outraged fans and the chants show that.’
United say the current price rise only affects three per cent of fans and is limited to Premier League games. They also point out that ticket prices have only risen 10 per cent in the last 11 years, and five per cent for kids.
However, after losing £300m over the last three years, the club needs to get back on a solid financial footing, having not been cash positive since before the pandemic. Without that, United say, there is little chance of building a new £2billion stadium and continuing to invest in the team.
They remain committed to consulting with the FAB, and say that no conversations have taken place over ticket prices for next season.
United fans are fearful the price hike is just the start and are fearful of further rises next season
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But that has cut little ice with fans. ‘We’re still fuming,’ said a spokesman for The 1958. ‘It’s a real kick in the teeth, and the club haven’t heard the last of this.
‘United promised to be more transparent and then we’re slapped in the face with this. There’s potentially no coming back from it.’
Sir Jim has his say
Unsurprisingly there was no sign of Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Old Trafford on Sunday as fans protested against the decision to scrap concessions and raise standard ticket pricing to £66.
But the Manchester United minority owner has had his say by talking to prominent fanzine United We Stand, which should make for fascinating pre-match reading ahead of the Nottingham Forest match.
The fanzine is a hit seller but this week may be one of the most anticipated yet.
Keeping the options open
United are assessing their goalkeeping options in case No 2 Altay Bayindir leaves during the January transfer window.
The Turkey international moved to Old Trafford from Fenerbahce in the summer of 2023 for £4.3m as back-up to Andre Onana, and has only made three appearances in the domestic cup competitions.
Bayindir, 26, is known to want more first-team football and was linked with a move to Celtic in the summer. Confidential understands that United would prefer to wait until the end of the season to replace him, but will be ready to move in January if needed.
United could look to bring in a new goalkeeper in January if Altay Bayindir (pictured) leaves
They are looking at younger alternatives to veteran Tom Heaton and are keeping an eye on Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson, although the 24-year-old is also of interest to Tottenham.
Scouts on Porto prowl
Confidential revealed last week that United had sent scouts to monitor Victor Gyokeres at Sporting Lisbon v Arsenal.
Well, this time their scouts were busy gathering information on Francisco Moura and Samu Aghehowa, formerly Omorodion, as they were deployed to FC Porto’s match against Ruben Amorim’s former team Casa Pia.
Left back and striker are two problem areas for United and Aghehowa is hardly a stranger to United after running their defence ragged earlier this season in the 3-3 Europa League thriller in Portugal.
The 20-year-old, who scored twice that night and has nine goals in nine league games for Porto this season, was very close to joining Chelsea for £35m last summer.
It remains unlikely that United will be able to do a roaring trade in January, but these are crucial weeks of intel gathering with Amorim keen to make sure United are ready to move for top players – particularly from Portugal where he knows the league inside out – when funds are made available.
It is understood that Burnley were among the other clubs to have scouts present at the game as the January transfer window creeps ever closer.
United are interested in signing Porto striker Samu Aghehowa (front) as they look to bolster their forward options
Aghehowa scored twice against United for Porto in the Europa League in October
United are also keeping a close eye on Porto left back Francisco Moura (pictured)
…and it’s Porto payback for fans
United fans on the ill-fated trip to Porto for the Europa League clash in October have been invited to a special screening of the Arsenal away game with a club legend at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Supporters paid more than £500 for a flight and match ticket through one of the club’s official travel partner, Sportsbreaks, only to have the trip cancelled at the last minute due to fog and a lack of landing slots in Porto. Some had waited up to 10 hours on the tarmac at Manchester Airport.
Those affected received a full refund and a match ticket for the Bodo/Glimt home game last week but Confidential understands they have also been offered the chance to watch the Arsenal clash in the Manchester suite with Treble winner Denis Irwin, with complimentary food and drink provided.
Some United fans have been given the chance to watch the clash against Arsenal with Treble winner Denis Irwin
Going behind the curtain
Eagle-eyed fans will have noticed that a new part of United’s media strategy is filming inside the dressing room before matches.
The dressing room has religiously been a place that is off-limits to fans and the media; a sacrosanct spot for players and coaches to prepare for games.
But with increased demands from broadcasters and a growing appetite for content internally, United have now given the green light to footage being shared of players arriving in the dressing room.
There is a growing expectation that a new broadcasting deal could bring about significant changes to the coverage of the Premier League – one of which could involve having a camera, but no sound, in the dressing room.
Any such change would need to be voted through by clubs, but seeing United embrace allowing fans virtually behind the curtain could be a shot in the arm for broadcasters to finally get it over the line.
Decisions, decisions for Harry
With the January transfer window fast approaching, it’s a curious time for many high-performing youngsters in the club’s academy.
Confidential has been monitoring the Under 21s and Under 18s all season long and understands that the club are now in the process of having meetings about next steps for several players.
One of those in sharp focus right now is left back Harry Amass, whose accelerated development appears to have caught many at Carrington off guard.
United teenager Harry Amass (pictured) could be set for a loan move away in January
Amass is yet to join in first-team training since Ruben Amorim arrived at the club
The 17-year-old is highly-rated by coaches and executives at United, and a lot of thought right now is going into how best to continue his development.
Amass has not yet trained with the first-team since Ruben Amorim arrived. Having been a mainstay in that group under Erik ten Hag, it has raised questions in academy circles about whether a loan could be the best move for him at this juncture.
There is a host of Premier League and Championship clubs looking to land him on loan in January should United make him available, although Confidential understands that no decision has yet been made.
The England youth international has three years left to run on the pro deal he signed at 17 and sources have indicated a calm around Amass’ future, with United eager not to mismanage a player they believe has the quality to eventually make it in the senior side.
Having impressed on United’s US tour, Ten Hag tipped Amass to crack the first team after three months of extra coaching.
‘He is not that far along now (as Mainoo was) at this moment, but if we train him well, if we coach him well, then in three months it’s possible that he can be at that point,’ Ten Hag said in August.
‘But in this moment he needs to catch up and he has to develop some of the skills needed to play for Manchester United, when we are competing for the highest position in the league.
‘But with big talent it can go very quickly and it is very interesting to see if he is capable of doing this.’
If a loan move is sanctioned for Amass, he certainly won’t be short of suitors.
Arsenal midfielder Jorginho went on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast earlier this week
Ferdinand addressed previous negative comments he made about Jorginho, insisting it was not ‘personal’
Rio heals Jorginho rift
An awkward moment for Rio Ferdinand ahead of United’s game at Arsenal on Wednesday when he interviewed Jorginho for his weekly podcast.
Ferdinand brought up some comments he made about the then Chelsea midfielder in 2019, saying: ‘How many assists has he got this season? Around 2,000 passes, no assists. He can’t run. So, he doesn’t give you anything defensively, and he doesn’t give you anything at the other end of the pitch.’
Revisiting the issue, Ferdinand told the Arsenal man: ‘I’d like to reiterate here with you to your face, is that nothing’s ever personal.’
Jorginho took it on the chin, replying: ‘Yeah because it can’t be personal. We don’t know each other, and I completely get it.
‘It makes you feel not good yeah, that touched me. I need to be honest, you know. Because you have such a big impact.’
For the record, Jorginho got 29 goals and 8 assists in 213 games for Chelsea, and was named UEFA player of the year in 2021. He has one goal and three assists in 61 games for Arsenal.
Lucky Under 8s are seeing stars
There was a nice moment after Sunday’s 4-0 win over Everton for United’s Under 8s side as they had a surprise visit from a group of first-team stars.
Captain Bruno Fernandes, Noussair Mazraoui, Jonny Evans, Amad Diallo and Diogo Dalot spent some time with the young group gathered together at Old Trafford after the match, giving the starstruck youngsters an opportunity to take pictures and get autographs. It’s all part of a buy-in instilled by Amorim to connect every level of the club.
Fernandes and Co spoke to the group about the journey to the first team and offered up an inspiring few words before heading home.
Sonny Aljofree (centre), who is on loan at Accrington Stanley from United, is set to face Liverpool next month
Cup joy for Aljofree
United’s trip to the Emirates and another meeting with Arsenal next month was the pick of the FA Cup third round draw at Old Trafford on Monday night.
However, Accrington Stanley’s home tie against Premier League leaders Liverpool certainly evokes the magic of the competition, and has presented Sonny Aljofree a chance to cause a huge upset against United’s great rivals.
Aljofree is on a season-long loan at the League Two club and played in Accrington’s penalty shootout win over Swindon Town at the weekend. The 19-year-old defender, who was a member of United’s FA Youth Cup-winning squad in 2022, now has his sights set on Arne Slot’s side.
Aljofree’s father Hasney started out as a player in United’s academy and later worked there as a coach and head of the elite player pathway. Earlier this year, he was appointed as head of coach education and development at the FA of Singapore.
United’s warm welcome
United have once again opened up their warms hubs to help fans and members of the local community through the worst of the cold winter.
The initiative opened up for a third year last Monday night when 25 people visited the Red Cafe and were given a place to stay warm as well as a hot snacks and drinks.
Andy’s Man Club, a suicide prevention charity aimed at ending the stigma surround men’s mental health, continues to meet at Old Trafford where the maximum turnout of 65 makes it the biggest session held by the organisation.
