MANCHESTER UNITED are set to abandon their traditional pre-season gift-giving – leaving fans fuming.
Clubs usually exchange both pennants and gifts during friendlies.
First reported by talkSPORT, United will not partake in the latter when they play Leeds on July 19 in Stockholm.
United have denied that it is a cost-cutting measure – instead insisting it is a “move away from needless ceremony and pomp.”
But fans did not react well to the news online as one said: “Can’t believe we are here now.”
Another fumed: “It’s 100% a cost cutting measure! It’s embarrassing from the club!”
A third raged: “We are shameless.”
Clubs often exchange personalised shirts or other club merchandise during pre-season games and become a gesture of goodwill to help forge relationships.
But under Ratcliffe’s reign, United are undergoing significant cost-cutting measures drive after losses exceeded £300m over the past three years.
This has included hundreds of redundancies, the closure of the staff canteen and lunch options at Carrington have also been reduced.
Funding to the club’s charitable arm, The Manchester United Foundation, was also reduced.
Ratcliffe controversially ended legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassadorial role while Bryan Robson, Andy Cole and Denis Irwin had their salaries cut.
United finished in 15th last season but have kept faith in manager Ruben Amorim.
They also play West Ham, Bournemouth, Everton and Fiorentina as a part of their pre-season tour.
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