Man United fans speculate after Van der Sar & Van Persie show up at Old Trafford

Manchester United fans have speculated on social media after two of the club's former players were spotted in attendance at Old Trafford.

Edwin van der Sar and Robin van Persie were both pictured watching on from the stands as United took on Aston Villa with Erik ten Hag looking to end a three-game winless streak.

Also at Old Trafford was INEOS group director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford, just days after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 1.3bn partial takeover was officially announced by the club after months of speculation.

Van der Sar previously worked as CEO of Ajax, presiding over the club between 2016 and 2023.

The 53-year-old Champions League winner worked alongside Erik ten Hag at the Eredivisie club, with Ajax securing three league titles during that time and also reaching the semi-final of the Champions League in the 2018-19 season.

The presence of the Dutch club legends led to some supporters theorising they could be drafted in by Ratcliffe to work on football operations.

One wrote: 'Edwin and RVP attending the game, following the next of Sir Jim is an interesting turn of events. I doubt it's by sheer coincidence'

Another wrote: 'Van der Sar and Van Persie in the stands, what could this mean?'

A further supporter added: 'INEOS giving Van Der Sar a role? This seems very coincidental?'

One fan called upon Ratcliffe to give Van der Sar a position on the United board: 'Get Van der Sar on the board, what a big play from SJR that would be.'

Van der Sar resigned from his chief executive role at Ajax in May, ending a more than decade-long stint on the club's board of directors.

In July he was rushed to hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage whilst on holiday in Croatia.

After spending time in intensive care the former goalkeeper was repatriated to his native Netherlands, before continuing his recovery from home.