Ineos seek alternative ways to generate funding after Manchester United failed to qualify for the Champions League.
After a turbulent 2024/25 season, Manchester United are not competing in Europe.
Ruben Amorim’s side finished 15th in the Premier League table after losing the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao.
This meant United failed to qualify for Europe for the first time since the 2013/14 season. It’s something Amorim cannot afford to happen again, despite picking up just three points from the first three league games of the new campaign.
To make matters worse for United, in terms of funding, Amorim’s side were also eliminated from the Carabao Cup second round last month after suffering defeat against Grimsby Town on penalties.
However, an alternative view would be that fewer midweek fixtures mean Amorim will get more time to implement his ideas for the players.
Ineos CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the aftermath of Manchester United's 2025 Europa League final defeat to Tottenham
Photo by Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Man Utd in talks over lucrative midweek friendlies
Failure to qualify for the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League could see the Red Devils arrange a series of lucrative midweek friendlies.
According to The Sun, United chiefs are considering midweek matches against a host of other clubs on the continent who aren’t involved in European competitions.
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The proposed plan would see friendly matches played in front of paying crowds, as previously seen in the Middle East.
United have 11 free midweeks between now and Christmas, and Ineos are mindful of the money they generated during a post-season tour of Asia – estimated to be worth £7.8 million.
Additional funding will help United conduct business in the January transfer window, so long as the extra matches don’t get in the way of Amorim’s plans on the training ground. They will need to find a happy medium rather than filling every free midweek with a friendly match.
Who could Man Utd play in series of lucrative friendlies?
United are not the only big club not playing in Europe this season.
The same applies to AC Milan, Lazio, RB Leipzig and Sevilla.
United have unhappy memories from their last meeting with Sevilla, after crashing out of the Europa League quarter-finals in 2023.
The club has also built a relationship with RB Leipzig following a deal for Benjamin Sesko this summer, with Christopher Vivell also working at Old Trafford following a stint with the Bundesliga outfit.
Only time will tell if these other clubs are willing to cash in on some friendly matches mid-season.