Gary Neville SLAMS Man Utd as 'DISGUSTING' for backing new European Super League

Gary Neville has blasted his beloved Manchester United for backing the new controversial European Super League that was announced last night.

A total of 12 European clubs - including United and the Premier League's 'Big Six' - confirmed plans for the breakaway competition, which have been met with near-universal uproar.

United co-chairman Joel Glazer, who hasn't attended a United game since April 2019, insisted in a statement that the Super League would 'increase financial support for the wider football pyramid' - but United legend Neville did not hold back when asked about the club's American owners on his podcast for Sky Sports.

'Forget them [American owners], they're nothing to do with this football club - they're just custodians,' Neville said, in a brutal assessment of the Super League plans in the wake of United's 3-1 win against Burnley on Sunday.

'The fans that come into this ground are the people who matter - we want competition. Forget them [Glazers]. They're nothing to do with this club in terms of the actual history of the club and the long-term future, they'll be gone.'

'They're just passengers in the night as far as I'm concerned. I'm fuming that Manchester United Football Club, that have been pioneers, that should be leading from the front, and looking after clubs in this country, there's National League clubs going bust, the whole pyramid is struggling.'

Glazer has been confirmed as a vice-president of the new league, and his statement in full read: 'By bringing together the world's greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid.'

The decision threatens to split English football, with the Premier League on Sunday night indicating in a letter to clubs that it would not sanction any such competition, giving United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham no choice but to back down or break away.

UEFA, who are due to announce their own proposals for a revamped Champions League on Monday, reacted with fury to the news which had broken earlier on Sunday, and Neville was similarly outraged.

'The timing is the second point. For Manchester United Football Club to vote for this is disgusting,' he added.

'The timing of it, in the midst of a pandemic, an economic crisis in this world, to demonstrate greed instead of compassion is an absolute shocker as far as I'm concerned.

'I've been critical of the people in this football club in the last few years for some of their football decisions – but this is another level. This is another level. You can put all the other five owners in the same box.'

Fans, politicians, governing bodies and some of football's most famous names joined in condemning the staggering development, which was the brainchild of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and was officially announced in a statement late on Sunday night.

A simple opening paragraph which shook the world of football declared: 'Twelve of Europe's leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.'

Major US bank JP Morgan, a former employer of Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward, are debt financing the new league which will see founding clubs receive £3.03billion, which is set against future broadcast revenue.

Meanwhile, a letter sent by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters to all 20 member clubs, took a similarly strong stance. 'We do not and cannot support such a concept,' he wrote.

One source described it as 'a US-led operation', adding: 'This is down mostly to the Americans at Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal who have believed for a long time that they should be making a lot more money.'