Fri 6 March 2026 19:30, UK
Champions League qualification will only paper over the cracks of the financial issues facing Manchester United.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, after Man United’s latest financial figures revealed the club is in debt of nearly £1.3billion.
Michael Carrick’s side are on course to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with the Red Devils third in the Premier League table.
Extra revenue from the Champions League could boost Man United’s finances after the club had no European football at Old Trafford this season.
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VISIT THE FINANCE HUBSir Jim Ratcliffe ‘strategy’ slammed
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes the debt is becoming an issue at Man United.
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Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Sir Jim Ratcliffe will have got “lucky” if Man United are in next season’s Champions League.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “They’re going to have to look at the debt at some stage. They’re now £1.3 billion in debt.
“Now, debt’s ok when you can service it, but this is, you know, starting to get lumpy in terms of the interest payments, etc. And so that’s at some stage going to be a factor.
“Now, we’ve talked about how crucial it is for Michael Carrick to get Champions League, not only for him, but for United. And this is more true than ever, and I think that if they get Champions League, which it is looking like they’re going to do it now, certainly, then that’s going to cover up a multitude of sins.
“And it is not through the strategy that Jim Ratcliffe can take credit for. Don’t try and tell me that he had a strategy to sack Erik ten Hag, then bring in Amorim, then sack Amorim and suddenly have Carrick come in. That is not a strategy. He got lucky. And if they get lucky, it’ll be covering up a multitude of sins.”
Credit: ImagoAmad Diallo’s future at Man United clarified
Sources have told Football Insider that Amad Diallo has no plans to leave Man United and remains a key part of Carrick’s squad.
Diallo had posted a cryptic message on social media hinting at an exit after the 23-year-old did not start the defeat to Newcastle last time out.
Man United will look to bolster their attacking ranks in the summer, but Diallo is not planning to leave Old Trafford.
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