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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Sir Jim Ratcliffe's brutal cost-cutting continues</li><li>Man Utd to do away with pre-season gifts</li><li>Red Devils are desperate to save every penny</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Nothing is sacred for Man Utd! Sir Jim Ratcliffe & INEOS come up with bizarre new cost-cutting measure ahead of pre-season

Club Friendlies

Manchester United

West Ham

Leeds

Villarreal

<p>Although the exchange of club pennants will continue, United have opted out of the more elaborate gift-giving custom, according to <a href="https://talksport.com/football/3360868/man-united-news-jim-ratcliffe-cost-cutting-leeds/" target="_blank"><em>talkSport</em></a>. The move will first be implemented when the Red Devils meets Leeds United in a friendly in Stockholm on July 19. Moreover, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/man-utd-pre-season-2025-tour-fixtures-results-tickets-watch/blt36f32f73e60b18cf" target="_blank">United’s upcoming fixtures against Premier League clubs</a> West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton as part of the Summer Series are also expected to proceed without any ceremonial gifting.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Instead of distributing gifts, United now intend to invest that portion of their pre-season budget into hospitality. This new direction will debut in Stockholm with a formal drinks reception for Leeds executives. Club insiders argue that such events are more meaningful for relationship-building than the exchange of physical items, especially with sides they regularly encounter during the season.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>While United maintain that the move is not financially motivated, many observers see it as part of a broader strategy to trim expenses. Under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s stewardship, there has already been several significant budget adjustments, which include the termination of club legend <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/sir-alex-ferguson-axed-ineos-former-man-utd-boss-ambassador-contract-terminated-sir-jim-ratcliffe/blte782e70a6229b424" target="_blank">Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassadorial contract, </a>reductions in salaries for icons like Bryan Robson, Andy Cole, and Denis Irwin, closure of the staff canteen and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/man-utd-staff-fired-losing-europa-league-final-tottenham-club-morale-low-popular-colleagues-lose-jobs/bltc0ba79b6fc2a7e7f" target="_blank">laying off hundreds of employees.</a></p>

TELL ME MORE

<p>Ratcliffe’s personal investment of £220 million ($299m) was aimed at rejuvenating the Red Devils, but he has made it clear that stabilising the financial situation takes precedence. Cost-saving measures, no matter how symbolic, such as cutting out pre-season gifts, could be interpreted as part of this bigger push to shift club culture, especially after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-au/lists/man-utd-raise-ticket-prices-profit-sustainability-rules-breach/blt46cd45bfd1201353" target="_blank">incurring more than £300m ($408m) in losses over the past three years.</a></p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Several of their summer opponents, including Leeds, were reportedly surprised by the change. Some clubs had already prepared their own gifts for United, in line with what is typically expected in such friendlies. The lack of reciprocal exchange has left some feeling blindsided.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

Nothing is sacred for Man Utd! Sir Jim Ratcliffe & INEOS come up with bizarre new cost-cutting measure ahead of pre-season | Goal.com

Manchester United have taken their now-infamous cost-cutting measures to a new extreme. The club has decided to drop the long-standing practice of exchanging gifts with their opponents ahead of pre-season matches. While many teams still engage in the ceremonial swap of memorabilia, the Red Devils are breaking tradition to save their pounds.

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