As the dust soon settles from another round of pre-season action, Manchester United’s tour of the United States and their participation in the Summer Series has sparked more headlines off the pitch.
The club’s win over West Ham in New Jersey in their first game of their US tour drew an estimated 50,000 fans, nearly filling the lower tiers of the MetLife Stadium, where attendance had been disappointingly low for earlier matches.
Ruben Amorim’s side has continued to fine-tune his tactics ahead of the new season, with players gaining valuable minutes, but the real drama may be unfolding behind boardroom doors.
Premier League executives are once again being forced to defend the competition’s growing international ventures, especially the divisive US-based Summer Series.
The 2024 edition of the tournament, designed to bolster the league’s reach across the Atlantic, has drawn harsh criticism from multiple top-flight clubs — many of which are reportedly ready to demand that the event be axed entirely.
Several Premier League sides are growing increasingly frustrated with the series, particularly because of its financial structure.
Those not involved are still required to help subsidise the event through central funds — a move some deem unfair, especially considering the inaugural 2022 edition suffered a £5.4million loss.
Although this year’s version is expected to perform better financially, insiders still anticipate it will end in the red.
Yet amid all the backlash, one club is poised to emerge as the biggest winner.
Manchester United are set to pocket an estimated £7.5million from their participation in the competition, thanks largely to the global strength of their brand and market reach, as per the Daily Mail.
While clubs like Bournemouth, Everton, and West Ham are also involved, none are expected to come close to matching United’s commercial pull or earnings.
Despite the controversy, scrapping the series is far from a foregone conclusion.
League sources suggest the majority of clubs remain supportive, with the Premier League declining to issue any formal statement.
Still, growing resentment from some corners could spark a fierce debate in the months ahead.
For now, Manchester United continue to profit while others watch on with frustration.
