Glazer decision shows further failure as Alessia Russo leaves Man United for free

Manchester United Women’s star forward Alessia Russo will leave the club on completion of her contract at the end of June.

Russo, 24, joined United in the summer of 2020 and has scored 26 goals – Thirteen of those came last term as The Reds secured Champions League qualification for the first time in their existence.

The team also reached the final of the Women’s FA Cup but fell to a 1-0 defeat against a Chelsea side that would go onto pip United to the Women’s Super League title on the final day.

It’s unarguable that, despite coming away from the season slightly disappointed with the final outcome, it was a campaign full of positives for Marc Skinner’s side.

However, the departure of Russo – United’s top scorer from last term – is a huge blow for the team. Her next move being to Arsenal will make it sting even more for supporters.

The details of whether United could’ve kept the striker seem to be mixed. It seemed that a move to a team already competing for major honours was always a possibility after Russo’s performances for England in the 2021 European Championship, as they won the country’s first trophy since the men’s 1966 World Cup triumph.

Arsenal attempted a mid-season swoop of the Lionesses’ star, which would’ve seen a world-record transfer broken after the Gunners offered United just under £500,000 in January for Russo. That was rejected.

However, reports from The Athletic reveal that sources close to the player say that United could have moved to offer Russo a new contract any time in the last 18 months and did not take advantage soon enough.

This led to an opening being exploited by Arsenal. The aforementioned report added that by the time United made an acceptable offer to the striker – in the last week of the WSL campaign – a decision had already been made.

Whilst United were batting away interest in January, the men’s team were unable to make any permanent transfers because of the takeover situation. You can only assume this limited the ability to negotiate with Russo’s agent before the last months of her contract.

Further club sources explained that a “very generous, strong offer” was made to the player which would’ve resulted in her being the best-paid women’s player at the club. Yet, it was seemingly too late. It was added that Football negotiations manager Sam Barnett and football director John Murtough were drafted in to assist with negotiations and there’s a feeling of disappointment that a deal was unable to be agreed upon.

It was only last month when Skinner’s side faced Chelsea in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley. Manchester United owner Avram Glazer was pictured at the game.

It was the first women’s game that he had attended. His family dismantled the women’s side shortly after taking over the club in 2005 because it was not in their “core business” interests. It was not re-established until 2018.

That game also saw the oldest Glazer sibling fly to London in style; on a private jet that reportedly cost £250,000. The cost of this was expectedly placed on the club, as was his journey’s to both times Erik ten Hag’s side reached finals at the national stadium last term – with similar costs expected for both.

A reminder: A BBC report last year found that the average WSL player earns £47,000 per year and England captain Leah Williamson was said to have earned £200,000 in the 2021/22 campaign.

Of course, the women’s game in England has continued to grow. And with that comes increased wage packets. Yet, the Glazer’s jet price is perhaps only a symbol of the wrongdoings the family have done at the club.

An earlier offer might not have swayed Russo’s decision; but it seems like it would’ve definitely given United a better chance at keeping her at the club.

United fans will be hoping that the American family are out of the club soon, with a takeover deal expected soon. British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is in competition with Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani for control of the club.

Meanwhile, Marc Skinner’s side will need to make some impressive signings in the summer if they are to build upon their impressive 2022/23 season.