Fergie free to spend Ron cash, says Gill
As interest continues to mount on loans taken out by the Glazer family to purchase the club four years ago, it is estimated that United are now more than £700m (€813m) in the red.
Under the circumstances, it must be tempting to use some of the world record windfall paid by Madrid to lure Ronaldo to the Bernabeu to pay a percentage off, especially as Alex Ferguson does not feel there is sufficient value in the transfer market at present.
Long-time critics have insisted that is what will eventually happen.
However, following up a statement from the Glazer family’s person public relations chief, Gill has left no doubt that Ferguson has all the Ronaldo cash at his disposal should he want it.
“No. It does not have to go against the debt,” Gill said. “You cannot be more clear than that. We did not budget for it and it is there to be used.”
Gill admitted he had mixed feelings as he checked to ensure the cash had been paid by wire transfer.
On one hand, it was hard to believe anyone would pay such a staggering sum for a single player – yet, like Ferguson, Gill was also aware United were losing a supreme talent.
“It was a phenomenal amount. Totally unprecedented,” he said.
“But you don’t get that sum of money for a run of the mill player.
“Ronaldo is one of the best in the world and there is a sadness he has left us. But he gave us six years’ service, the last three of which were absolutely fantastic. He was professional about the way he went about his job and we wish him every success.”
Gill, however, has questioned the commercial strategy behind Real Madrid’s mammoth summer spending spree.
Aside from finding Ferguson’s successor when the most successful manager in Manchester United’s history eventually decides to call it a day, Gill would probably concede wage inflation is the biggest problem he is likely to face as chief executive of the Old Trafford outfit.
And given United’s level of debt, Gill could have done without the incredible sums spent by Madrid and Manchester City that threaten to take wages spiralling out of control.
With City, the motive is fairly obvious. Mega-rich owners wanting to make a big impact. At the Bernabeu, Gill senses a flaw.
“I don’t understand the economics of what Real Madrid are doing,” Gill said.
“Their turnover is not materially different to ours so I am not quite sure how they can make the profits to justify the salaries.
“It’s none of my business I suppose but I don’t think they can.”
No such analysis is needed for what has happened at Eastlands over the past 12 months.
While Real Madrid president Florentino Perez appears to think anticipated additional commercial revenue from the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema will cover the enormous cost of buying the players, City have no need to balance the books.
As long as they are being bankrolled by their Abu Dhabi-based backers, Mark Hughes’ mega spending spree, which has delivered former Red Devil Carlos Tevez among others, can continue.
“There were clearly issues with Carlos,” said Gill. “Whether he couldn’t grasp what being a member of a squad was I don’t know.
“Was there a genuine desire on their part to conclude the deal? You would have to ask them.
“But he has clearly gone for more money than we were paying him and economically they possibly felt it was better for him to move on.”
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