- Edwin van der Sar and Robin van Persie in attendance at Old Trafford Tuesday
- Fans speculated their return could be linked to the recent partial takeover news
- Chris Sutton says Jurgen Klopp IS right to call out his own fans – It’s All Kicking Off
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.
Robin van Persie and Edwin van der Sar were in attendance for Manchester United’s clash with Aston Villa
INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford also watched on days after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover was announced
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?’
Supporters speculated that the former United stars’ return to Old Trafford could be related to the £1.3bn deal
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.
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