The article recounts the Glazer family's controversial first visit to Old Trafford in 2005 amidst protests from Manchester United fans. Instead of engaging with the community, the Glazers demonstrated their entitlement by taking merchandise without payment, symbolizing their planned approach to the club. Despite the backlash from fans and calls for governmental scrutiny, key figures, including Sir Bobby Charlton and David Gill, facilitated their takeover. This history illustrates how various stakeholders, including media and former executives, enabled the Glazers' control, highlighting their calculated business strategies at the expense of fan sentiment.
When the time came to leave, the Glazers simply took the bags and left. This was, after all, all their own property, theirs to take and use as they pleased.
Sir Bobby Charlton would later apologise to the Glazers for the hostile reception they received from fans on their first visit.
David Gill, the chief executive who had initially resisted the takeover, was the man who greeted them at their car, smoothed the transition and was rewarded with a doubling of his salary.
The Labour government, deep in election mode, refused to scrutinise the takeover despite the urging of many of its own MPs.
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