Avram Glazer has sensationally claimed Manchester United do not need to get positive results on the pitch to be a success.
The hated co-owner, 66, was targeted during fan protests as the Red Devils bagged a Champions League comeback win over Roma on Tuesday.
And Glazer, who looked at expanding his sporting empire by snapping up an Indian Premier League franchise earlier this year, has risked making United supporters even more furious.
The American businessman made a rare appearance at Deutsche Bank’s inaugural Sports Investment Conference in London.
According to The Sun, The Athletic report Glazer argued United’s value is not dependent on bagging silverware.
He was asked by an audience member about the correlation between results on the pitch and a club’s commercial pull.
But Glazer claimed baseball giants New York Yankees and NFL heavyweights Dallas Cowboys are still global brands despite long spells without adding to the trophy cabinet.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers co-owner reckons he and his fellow bigwigs can still make money if United struggle to climb the Premier League table.
It comes after former executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward gave a similar response during an investor call in May 2018.
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He said: “Playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business.”
Glazer, who has been part of the Old Trafford hierarchy since 2003, and other key figures behind the scenes have been insisting fluctuating form cannot be used as an excuse for failing to hit income targets.
And Forbes still rank United as the third most valuable club in world football – behind only Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Red Devils ended their nine-match winless run by notching an epic 3-2 victory over Roma earlier this week.
United appeared to have a mountain to climb when Matias Soule and Donyell Malen handed the Italians a commanding lead.
But a Bruno Fernandes spot-kick and Matheus Cunha brace completed a stunning fightback.
The two-goal hero had to be escorted off the pitch at the final whistle, having been sent off in stoppage time.
United are still only separated from the Premier League’s dreaded drop zone by goal difference despite the European rally.
Old Trafford chief Michael Carrick, who is under serious pressure, will be desperate to make it back-to-back wins against Aston Villa on Sunday.
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