The 49ers executives are part of a WhatsApp group where they discuss Leeds players, like RaphinhaThe Leeds United vice-chairman Paraag Marathe has insisted that the club’s American shareholders are “different” from the Glazer family at Manchester United. Marathe has also warned that, despite the collapse of the European Super League (ESL), there is still a threat that some elite clubs may make a future attempt to grab more power and money. SponsoredThe San Francisco 49ers NFL franchise increased their stake in Leeds to 37 per cent this year and Marathe, president of 49ers Enterprises, reacted to news of the ESL plan last month with “gutted disappointment”. The Glazers, who own United as well as Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL, were among the prime movers behind the ESL, though Joel Glazer has since apologised to United fans for the family’s

Source: The Times May 20, 2021 16:05 UTC