Manchester United is at risk of missing out on Champions League qualification this year and potentially not making it to the tournament next year.
The potential purchase of Manchester United by Britain’s richest man, Jim Ratcliffe, for 1.25 billion euros is expected to happen soon, with Ratcliffe taking a more active role in rejuvenating the struggling team.
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If Nice and Manchester United both secure Champions League qualification spots, UEFA’s “multi-club ownership” rules dictate that only one of them can play in Europe next season, leaving the other to compete in the Europa Conference League.
According to The Sun, if both teams finish in qualifying positions, the higher-finishing team will secure the spot, leaving the other team banned from European competition.
If both teams finish in the same position, England’s ranking in UEFA’s “access list” would give priority to Erik ten Hag’s side over Nice.
If Nice finishes fourth, Manchester United would also be unable to enter the Europa League.
️| Manchester United is one of 13 clubs that voted to ban player loans between clubs under the same ownership. Other clubs, including Newcastle, Sheffield United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton, Wolverhampton, and Nottingham Forest, opposed the ban.
The proposal to ban was rejected by a single… pic.twitter.com/obKiAXIuJf
— UtdTruthful (@Utdtruthful) November 21, 2023
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For Manchester United to secure a spot in any European competition, they would need to finish sixth and hope for Liverpool or potentially Newcastle to win the Carabao Cup, granting United direct entry to the Europa Conference League.
Currently standing at sixth in the table, Manchester United is set to face Everton on November 26th in the Premier League.