After watching their team struggle on the pitch in recent years, Manchester United fans have been highly critical of the Glazer family and their lack of investment.
In comparison, Manchester City have spent hundreds of millions since the Sheikh Mansour takeover, establishing themselves as one of the best teams in the world.
Speaking in August 2022, United legend Gary Neville said: “These owners, since Sir Alex Ferguson left, have proven that they cannot manage a forward-thinking football club. It has been overtaken in every single department and it is painful and woeful…
“My point is, at this moment in time, there has been a toxic culture and atmosphere created at the club over a 10-year period, without its leaders, Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill, who were propping the club up while the [Glazer] family were sat in America glorifying the fact that they were part of it.
“We are now seeing what has happened without those two and leadership. It is a mess and it cannot carry on.”
Even with Erik ten Hag now in charge and performances starting to improve, many United fans would strongly agree with Neville's sentiment and have made their feelings clear with noteworthy protests over the last couple of years.
The feeling of despair is only heightened by the success they see across town at the Etihad. Since being purchased by the Abu Dhabi royal family in 2008, City have gone from strength to strength.
Whatever you think of the ownership, it is impossible to deny their competence. City have used their vast resources wisely to win six Premier League titles and a slew of domestic cups over the past decade and a bit.
Courtesy of Transfermarkt, we've looked at United's and City's net spends since the summer of 2008 to see how the two clubs compare.
2008-09:
Man Utd – £34million
Man City – £117.7million
2009-10:
Man Utd – £69.4m profit
Man City – £104.7m
2010-11:
Man Utd – £10.8m
Man City – £129.1m
2011-12:
Man Utd – £43.6m
Man City – £53.9m
2012-13:
Man Utd – £60.1m
Man City – £15.9m
2013-14:
Man Utd – £67.8m
Man City – £94.2m
2014-15:
Man Utd – £131.5m
Man City – £65m
2015-16:
Man Utd – £48.5m
Man City – £126.7m
2016-17:
Man Utd – £123.9m
Man City – £161.7m
2017-18:
Man Utd – £137.6m
Man City – £203.5m
2018-19:
Man Utd – £46.9m
Man City – £18.9m
2019-20:
Man Utd – £120.2m
Man City – £88m
2020-21:
Man Utd – £61.6m
Man City – £91.5m
2021-22:
Man Utd – £98.4m
Man City – £36.6m
2022-23:
Man Utd – £206m
Man City – £18.4m profit
Total net spend:
Man Utd – £1.1215billion
Man City – £1.2708billion
Man Utd's last 11 signings before the Glazer takeover – and how they fared
Fihacekry
35
Manchester united fans crying and calling Manchester City oil club for spending too much money 😂😂 Meanwhile they have spent almost same amount of money and won 0 trophies in last 5 years and playing EUROPA LEAGUE this season 😂😂😂😂
Ilyassuper
27
Can u pls compare the trophy they won since last five years
Janelnptu
10
From 2018 onwards.... Manu spent significantly more amount every year than City. When City taken over they got an average sets of players who were not capable of winning trophies.... But City's owner has the ability and willingness to make it a world-class team. They appointed right person for every department. They were able to bring quality players and managers for the team. So, they have to spend a lot. Now they are a world-class team.... what ever you think or not,,, City is a world-class team. City may not won the CL... but you will not find a single team who will be happy if they see City is there opponent. Even Real Madrid got a miracle victory over City after 3 straight defeat to the hands of City. Is Only CL won make one team bigger???? So Nottingham Forest is bigger club than Arsenal, Tottenham right!!!!!