United View With Ben McCarthy: Could This Be The Dawning Of A New Era?

Even with the World Cup in full swing Manchester United continue to be a talking point.

Not only has Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell at the club come to end but it could also be the end of the Glazer’s ownership, as the club appears to be up for sale.

When Piers Morgan revealed his exclusive interview with Cristiano Ronaldo it sent shockwaves around the football world. It was clear there was tension and unrest with Ronaldo, but it still came as a surprise when he decided to lay out his thoughts in a tell-all discussion.

In the interview, he came after Ten Hag, The Glazers and Ralf Rangnick among others. Along with discussing personal matters. Some of what Ronaldo said rang true, such as criticising the ownership and questioning the club's lack of development since his first departure in 2010. However, his lack of respect for Ten Hag and his attack on Wayne Rooney wasn’t received well by United fans.

Going after the manager was a battle Ronaldo was never going to win. Thankfully the club backed the Ten Hag, who is now the most important figure at the club. United announced this week that Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract would be terminated after what was likely gross misconduct.

Ronaldo’s return started off as a fairy tale but ended up being a nightmare. It’s sad to see how things turned out, but there's no denying the legacy Cristiano Ronaldo has cemented at the club. Hopefully, the club can move on and finally get some peace without his enormous presence.

Only a few hours later more news from Old Trafford broke as the club announced that it is ‘commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club.’ Which to normal people translates as Manchester United is up for sale.

Fans rejoiced at the news of the potential departure of the Glazer family, who have come under massive scrutiny ever since they first acquired the club 17 years ago.

Although many have been hailing Ronaldo as a sacrificial lamb after his interview slamming the owners, the truth is this has likely been on the cards for some time. However, it could be argued that it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

The question now is who will look to buy Manchester United. There was talk of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who for the fans is the ideal pick. But there could be competition from the Middle East who have been flexing their financial strength over recent years with teams like PSG and Manchester City.

Whomever it may be, they need to be someone with a serious ambition to take the club back to the top. Along with the redevelopment of the stadium and training facilities, there has to be a solid board to match. Perhaps the club can give Edwin Van Der Sar a call to join up with his Ten Hag once again.

It’s been another hectic week for Manchester United and a ball hasn’t even been kicked. All this drama has left me itching to see the Reds back in action but until the 21^st of December, we will all have to wait and see what happens. Who knows, by that time there could be new ownership at Manchester United.