Manchester United’s pre-season preparations may be focused on the pitch, but serious unrest is once again brewing off it.
The Red Devils are gearing up for a decisive 2025/26 campaign under Ruben Amorim, who continues to embed his philosophy in the squad.
New arrivals at Old Trafford have provided some buzz, and players are looking increasingly sharp ahead of the Arsenal opener.
But a dark cloud continues to hang over the club — one that no shiny signing or tactical shift can fully erase.
Fan sentiment towards the ownership, already toxic in recent years, is now hitting boiling point, and this time, it’s not just the Glazers feeling the heat.
Manchester United supporters group, The 1958, has announced plans to stage a major protest at the club’s opening Premier League clash of the season against Arsenal on August 17th, as revealed via Sky Sports News.
The protest will mark a new chapter in fan dissent, with the group confirming that — for the first time — it will target not only the Glazer family but also new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
In a bold statement, a spokesperson for The 1958 declared: “It’s a new season but the same old ownership issues.
“Twenty years of the Glazers and their debt mountain is 20 years too long. Enough is enough.”
They added, “We won’t allow some natural optimism and a couple of shiny new signings to deflect from the bigger off-field picture.
“Jim Ratcliffe chose to get into bed with the Glazers and in our opinion is helping keep them in charge.”
Ratcliffe, who once had the backing of sections of the fanbase as a potential saviour, is now being accused of enabling the Glazers’ continued influence and undermining the values of the club.
“This is no longer just about ownership,” said the group.
“This is about survival – the survival of our identity, our community, and our values.”
The 1958’s last protest came against Aston Villa in the final game of last season.
With tensions rising and fan frustration growing louder, United’s ownership structure is under the microscope once again — and the 2025/26 campaign may begin with fury in the stands rather than unity.
