The money stories behind famous people. Big bets, costly mistakes, unexpected comebacks
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Veltrix retweeted
Manchester United agreed to pay €15 million over five years to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back. Just over a year later, their manager left him on the bench during a 6–3 defeat “out of respect for his big career.”
October 2, 2022. Manchester City were four goals up before halftime. Erik ten Hag made five substitutions. None of them was Ronaldo.
Four months earlier, Ronaldo had finished the season with 24 goals for United. Now, during one of their biggest games, the explanation for not using him was his reputation.
Roy Keane couldn’t accept it.
Arguing with Micah Richards in the video below, he said United should have let Ronaldo leave in the summer if they weren’t going to play him.
“It is just going to get uglier as the season goes on.”
Within weeks, Ronaldo refused to come on against Tottenham. Then came the Piers Morgan interview and his public attack on Ten Hag.
On November 22, United announced his departure by mutual agreement. Sky Sports reported that he left without a payout, saving the club about £16 million in remaining wages.
The transfer agreement had allowed five years to pay for his return. Fifteen months after signing him, United were saving money by ending it.
Manchester United agreed to pay €15 million over five years to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back. Just over a year later, their manager left him on the bench during a 6–3 defeat “out of respect for his big career.”
October 2, 2022. Manchester City were four goals up before halftime. Erik ten Hag made five substitutions. None of them was Ronaldo.
Four months earlier, Ronaldo had finished the season with 24 goals for United. Now, during one of their biggest games, the explanation for not using him was his reputation.
Roy Keane couldn’t accept it.
Arguing with Micah Richards in the video below, he said United should have let Ronaldo leave in the summer if they weren’t going to play him.
“It is just going to get uglier as the season goes on.”
Within weeks, Ronaldo refused to come on against Tottenham. Then came the Piers Morgan interview and his public attack on Ten Hag.
On November 22, United announced his departure by mutual agreement. Sky Sports reported that he left without a payout, saving the club about £16 million in remaining wages.
The transfer agreement had allowed five years to pay for his return. Fifteen months after signing him, United were saving money by ending it.
Veltrix retweeted
Manchester United spent more than £200 million on signings in Erik ten Hag’s first summer. Six months later, Liverpool beat them 7–0. Gary Neville still believed the manager needed more investment.
A week earlier, United had lifted their first trophy in six years. They had knocked Barcelona out of Europe and gone 11 games unbeaten.
Then came Anfield. Six goals conceded in one half.
The uncomfortable part was how much of the rebuild was already on the pitch. Antony, Casemiro and Lisandro Martínez all started. These were players United had just spent heavily to bring in.
Neville accepted that the performance was disgraceful. He wasn’t ready to write off the manager’s work.
“He needs another couple of transfer windows.”
That was a significant ask. Months earlier, United’s football director had said recruitment was ahead of schedule and the club did not expect to repeat that summer’s spending.
The argument in the video came just seven days after Wembley. The same manager, the same expensive rebuild, a completely different conversation.
A trophy had made the investment look promising. A 7–0 defeat had Neville explaining why it still wasn’t enough.
Manchester United spent more than £200 million on signings in Erik ten Hag’s first summer. Six months later, Liverpool beat them 7–0. Gary Neville still believed the manager needed more investment.
A week earlier, United had lifted their first trophy in six years. They had knocked Barcelona out of Europe and gone 11 games unbeaten.
Then came Anfield. Six goals conceded in one half.
The uncomfortable part was how much of the rebuild was already on the pitch. Antony, Casemiro and Lisandro Martínez all started. These were players United had just spent heavily to bring in.
Neville accepted that the performance was disgraceful. He wasn’t ready to write off the manager’s work.
“He needs another couple of transfer windows.”
That was a significant ask. Months earlier, United’s football director had said recruitment was ahead of schedule and the club did not expect to repeat that summer’s spending.
The argument in the video came just seven days after Wembley. The same manager, the same expensive rebuild, a completely different conversation.
A trophy had made the investment look promising. A 7–0 defeat had Neville explaining why it still wasn’t enough.
Veltrix retweeted
Jamie Carragher had been arguing that Manchester United should let Cristiano Ronaldo go. Then Ronaldo walked over during a live broadcast, greeted Gary Neville and Roy Keane — and ignored Carragher.
August 22, 2022. United were about to face Liverpool at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag had left Ronaldo on the bench.
On Sky Sports, Carragher had just suggested that the manager didn’t really want Ronaldo around. He thought the forward could be gone within two weeks.
Then Ronaldo appeared.
He greeted Gary Neville, passed Carragher and went over to Roy Keane. Both were former teammates from his first spell at United. Carragher tried to engage him, but Ronaldo continued with his greetings and returned to the warm-up.
The presenter couldn’t leave it alone.
“Nice conversation with you, Jamie.”
“He totally blanked me!”
Ronaldo never explained the snub. But Carragher had spent months questioning his place at United, and their brief encounter gave viewers plenty to argue about.
United won 2–1 that night with Ronaldo starting on the bench. Carragher had a result to support his argument — and a very awkward clip to go with it.
Jamie Carragher had been arguing that Manchester United should let Cristiano Ronaldo go. Then Ronaldo walked over during a live broadcast, greeted Gary Neville and Roy Keane — and ignored Carragher.
August 22, 2022. United were about to face Liverpool at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag had left Ronaldo on the bench.
On Sky Sports, Carragher had just suggested that the manager didn’t really want Ronaldo around. He thought the forward could be gone within two weeks.
Then Ronaldo appeared.
He greeted Gary Neville, passed Carragher and went over to Roy Keane. Both were former teammates from his first spell at United. Carragher tried to engage him, but Ronaldo continued with his greetings and returned to the warm-up.
The presenter couldn’t leave it alone.
“Nice conversation with you, Jamie.”
“He totally blanked me!”
Ronaldo never explained the snub. But Carragher had spent months questioning his place at United, and their brief encounter gave viewers plenty to argue about.
United won 2–1 that night with Ronaldo starting on the bench. Carragher had a result to support his argument — and a very awkward clip to go with it.
Veltrix retweeted
@GNev2 was spot on about this.
He also said, deduct them points & stamp on them.
Well the… @premierleague & Richard Masters just bent over for them & made the rules even more in favour of them.
The Red Cartel is real.
Rules need changing, to a fair fight.
#NUFC
Manchester United joined a breakaway league promising its founding clubs a share of $4.2 billion. Gary Neville wanted his own club punished.
“I’m disgusted. Absolutely disgusted.” - Gary Neville, 0:31 in the video below.
April 18, 2021. Neville was speaking on Sky Sports at Old Trafford as reports of a European Super League spread. He had supported United for 40 years. Now he was publicly turning on the people running it.
The proposal offered something you couldn’t buy in the Champions League: a permanent place.
Fifteen founding clubs would be protected. Just five other teams would qualify each year through their performances. A bad season could keep an outsider out. The founders would still be there.
That night, 12 clubs formally announced the project. They promised roughly $4.2 billion in shared funding for infrastructure and recovery from the pandemic.
Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer was named a vice-chairman of the new league.
In the video, Neville points out that United, Arsenal and Tottenham weren’t even in the Champions League. Now they wanted guaranteed access to its proposed rival.
His anger turns into a demand for punishment: financial penalties, points deductions, even relegation.
“Relegate United, Liverpool and Arsenal.”
He had spent his entire playing career at United. He wasn’t asking for his club to get an exception.
The backlash spread across fans, players and politicians. On April 20, United announced it was withdrawing, saying it had listened to supporters and other stakeholders.
Two days earlier, Joel Glazer had been promoting a new chapter for European football. His own club pulled out before a ball was kicked.
Veltrix retweeted
Manchester United joined a breakaway league promising its founding clubs a share of $4.2 billion. Gary Neville wanted his own club punished.
“I’m disgusted. Absolutely disgusted.” - Gary Neville, 0:31 in the video below.
April 18, 2021. Neville was speaking on Sky Sports at Old Trafford as reports of a European Super League spread. He had supported United for 40 years. Now he was publicly turning on the people running it.
The proposal offered something you couldn’t buy in the Champions League: a permanent place.
Fifteen founding clubs would be protected. Just five other teams would qualify each year through their performances. A bad season could keep an outsider out. The founders would still be there.
That night, 12 clubs formally announced the project. They promised roughly $4.2 billion in shared funding for infrastructure and recovery from the pandemic.
Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer was named a vice-chairman of the new league.
In the video, Neville points out that United, Arsenal and Tottenham weren’t even in the Champions League. Now they wanted guaranteed access to its proposed rival.
His anger turns into a demand for punishment: financial penalties, points deductions, even relegation.
“Relegate United, Liverpool and Arsenal.”
He had spent his entire playing career at United. He wasn’t asking for his club to get an exception.
The backlash spread across fans, players and politicians. On April 20, United announced it was withdrawing, saying it had listened to supporters and other stakeholders.
Two days earlier, Joel Glazer had been promoting a new chapter for European football. His own club pulled out before a ball was kicked.
Manchester United joined a breakaway league promising its founding clubs a share of $4.2 billion. Gary Neville wanted his own club punished.
“I’m disgusted. Absolutely disgusted.” - Gary Neville, 0:31 in the video below.
April 18, 2021. Neville was speaking on Sky Sports at Old Trafford as reports of a European Super League spread. He had supported United for 40 years. Now he was publicly turning on the people running it.
The proposal offered something you couldn’t buy in the Champions League: a permanent place.
Fifteen founding clubs would be protected. Just five other teams would qualify each year through their performances. A bad season could keep an outsider out. The founders would still be there.
That night, 12 clubs formally announced the project. They promised roughly $4.2 billion in shared funding for infrastructure and recovery from the pandemic.
Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer was named a vice-chairman of the new league.
In the video, Neville points out that United, Arsenal and Tottenham weren’t even in the Champions League. Now they wanted guaranteed access to its proposed rival.
His anger turns into a demand for punishment: financial penalties, points deductions, even relegation.
“Relegate United, Liverpool and Arsenal.”
He had spent his entire playing career at United. He wasn’t asking for his club to get an exception.
The backlash spread across fans, players and politicians. On April 20, United announced it was withdrawing, saying it had listened to supporters and other stakeholders.
Two days earlier, Joel Glazer had been promoting a new chapter for European football. His own club pulled out before a ball was kicked.
Veltrix retweeted
Manchester United let Cristiano Ronaldo leave without a payoff, saving a reported $19 million in remaining wages. A month earlier, two of his former teammates were arguing over whether he should go.
“Let me finish!” Roy Keane snapped as Gary Neville pushed for Ronaldo to leave.
October 2022. Ronaldo had refused to come on against Tottenham and left before the final whistle. United won 2–0. Erik ten Hag dropped him for the next match.
Neville backed the punishment. Keane agreed Ronaldo was wrong — but challenged how United were treating him.
Weeks earlier, Ten Hag had kept Ronaldo on the bench against Manchester City, saying it was out of respect for his career. Against Tottenham, he wanted him on for the closing minutes.
Keane didn’t think that added up.
Then Neville argued United were better without Ronaldo. They scored more goals and won more points without him. His reputation couldn’t guarantee him a place.
Keane pushed back. They had loved Ronaldo’s obsession with being the best when he arrived as a teenager. At 37, he still had it.
In the video below, neither will let the other finish. Both accept he deserved punishment. They cannot agree on whether United still needed him.
Weeks later, Ronaldo told Piers Morgan he felt betrayed by the club and had no respect for Ten Hag.
On November 22, United announced his departure by mutual agreement. Sky Sports reported there was no payout.
A year earlier, United had welcomed him back. Now they were saving millions by letting him leave.
Manchester United let Cristiano Ronaldo leave without a payoff, saving a reported $19 million in remaining wages. A month earlier, two of his former teammates were arguing over whether he should go.
“Let me finish!” Roy Keane snapped as Gary Neville pushed for Ronaldo to leave.
October 2022. Ronaldo had refused to come on against Tottenham and left before the final whistle. United won 2–0. Erik ten Hag dropped him for the next match.
Neville backed the punishment. Keane agreed Ronaldo was wrong — but challenged how United were treating him.
Weeks earlier, Ten Hag had kept Ronaldo on the bench against Manchester City, saying it was out of respect for his career. Against Tottenham, he wanted him on for the closing minutes.
Keane didn’t think that added up.
Then Neville argued United were better without Ronaldo. They scored more goals and won more points without him. His reputation couldn’t guarantee him a place.
Keane pushed back. They had loved Ronaldo’s obsession with being the best when he arrived as a teenager. At 37, he still had it.
In the video below, neither will let the other finish. Both accept he deserved punishment. They cannot agree on whether United still needed him.
Weeks later, Ronaldo told Piers Morgan he felt betrayed by the club and had no respect for Ten Hag.
On November 22, United announced his departure by mutual agreement. Sky Sports reported there was no payout.
A year earlier, United had welcomed him back. Now they were saving millions by letting him leave.
Veltrix retweeted
Manchester United lost roughly $128 million in a year and still paid shareholders about $37 million. After a 4–0 defeat to Brentford, Gary Neville went after the owners on live TV.
August 13, 2022. United had conceded four goals in 35 minutes. Jamie Redknapp argued that the expensive players on the pitch had to take responsibility. Neville wanted the conversation to go higher.
It got personal: “Look at me when I’m talking to you,” Redknapp demanded.
Neville wasn’t backing down. He pointed to money leaving the club while Old Trafford deteriorated. The Glazers, he argued, were letting their employees take the criticism while they stayed in America.
Then he challenged the defence everyone kept making: the owners had spent money on players.
Whose money?
Neville’s point was that United funded those transfers through its own revenue and borrowing. Spending the club’s money wasn’t the same as putting your own money into it.
The accounts published the following month added another uncomfortable detail. For the financial year ending June 2022, United had paid about $37 million in dividends to shareholders, including the Glazers, despite a roughly $128 million loss.
United had finished sixth. That hadn’t stopped shareholders getting paid.
Manchester United lost roughly $128 million in a year and still paid shareholders about $37 million. After a 4–0 defeat to Brentford, Gary Neville went after the owners on live TV.
August 13, 2022. United had conceded four goals in 35 minutes. Jamie Redknapp argued that the expensive players on the pitch had to take responsibility. Neville wanted the conversation to go higher.
It got personal: “Look at me when I’m talking to you,” Redknapp demanded.
Neville wasn’t backing down. He pointed to money leaving the club while Old Trafford deteriorated. The Glazers, he argued, were letting their employees take the criticism while they stayed in America.
Then he challenged the defence everyone kept making: the owners had spent money on players.
Whose money?
Neville’s point was that United funded those transfers through its own revenue and borrowing. Spending the club’s money wasn’t the same as putting your own money into it.
The accounts published the following month added another uncomfortable detail. For the financial year ending June 2022, United had paid about $37 million in dividends to shareholders, including the Glazers, despite a roughly $128 million loss.
United had finished sixth. That hadn’t stopped shareholders getting paid.
Veltrix retweeted
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham for about $2.5 million. Their club later received roughly $24 million in taxpayer-funded grants. Then reporters started asking for the paperwork.
The money was intended to help upgrade the stadium for international events. Officials said the improvements would bring visitors, jobs and investment to the area.
But in April 2026, a Guardian investigation raised questions about the first grant, worth approximately $5 million.
According to the report, the council awarded it before completing its final subsidy assessment or signing a funding agreement. The agreement wasn’t completed until September 2025.
The council defended its process, saying due diligence had been carried out before any money was transferred.
Meanwhile, Wrexham was attracting private investors too. In December 2025, Apollo Sports Capital announced a minority investment. Reynolds and McElhenney remained majority owners.
In the video below, McElhenney remembers people laughing when they first mentioned reaching the Premier League.
Three promotions later, that ambition looked much closer.
The financial debate had changed too: how much public money should help fund a club that wealthy private investors already wanted to own?
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham for about $2.5 million. Their club later received roughly $24 million in taxpayer-funded grants. Then reporters started asking for the paperwork.
The money was intended to help upgrade the stadium for international events. Officials said the improvements would bring visitors, jobs and investment to the area.
But in April 2026, a Guardian investigation raised questions about the first grant, worth approximately $5 million.
According to the report, the council awarded it before completing its final subsidy assessment or signing a funding agreement. The agreement wasn’t completed until September 2025.
The council defended its process, saying due diligence had been carried out before any money was transferred.
Meanwhile, Wrexham was attracting private investors too. In December 2025, Apollo Sports Capital announced a minority investment. Reynolds and McElhenney remained majority owners.
In the video below, McElhenney remembers people laughing when they first mentioned reaching the Premier League.
Three promotions later, that ambition looked much closer.
The financial debate had changed too: how much public money should help fund a club that wealthy private investors already wanted to own?
Veltrix retweeted
In 2011, Wrexham had 24 hours to find £100,000 or face being kicked out of its league. A 10-year-old boy showed up with his £35 savings.
The club needed a £250,000 financial guarantee to be allowed to start the season. Its co-owner had put up £150,000. The deadline passed with the rest still missing, and the league granted one extra day.
Then the supporters started turning up.
A fan in Canada sent £10,000. Two men offered the deeds to their homes as collateral. Others offered their life savings. The boy brought £35.
At the ground, people handed over cash in envelopes and checks. An ITV reporter covering the appeal remembered a grown man approaching him with tears in his eyes.
“I wish I could have given more.”
By the end of the day, supporters had raised £127,000. Wrexham received confirmation that it could compete, with the opening game just four days away.
Later that year, the Wrexham Supporters’ Trust took control of the club.
Years before the worldwide audience and the promotion celebrations, these were the people keeping Wrexham alive. They were paying for the chance to come back on Saturday.
That boy’s £35 became part of the money that made it possible.
In 2011, Wrexham had 24 hours to find £100,000 or face being kicked out of its league. A 10-year-old boy showed up with his £35 savings.
The club needed a £250,000 financial guarantee to be allowed to start the season. Its co-owner had put up £150,000. The deadline passed with the rest still missing, and the league granted one extra day.
Then the supporters started turning up.
A fan in Canada sent £10,000. Two men offered the deeds to their homes as collateral. Others offered their life savings. The boy brought £35.
At the ground, people handed over cash in envelopes and checks. An ITV reporter covering the appeal remembered a grown man approaching him with tears in his eyes.
“I wish I could have given more.”
By the end of the day, supporters had raised £127,000. Wrexham received confirmation that it could compete, with the opening game just four days away.
Later that year, the Wrexham Supporters’ Trust took control of the club.
Years before the worldwide audience and the promotion celebrations, these were the people keeping Wrexham alive. They were paying for the chance to come back on Saturday.
That boy’s £35 became part of the money that made it possible.
Veltrix retweeted
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were counting on a $25 million grant to help rebuild Wrexham’s stadium. The government said no.
“I don’t have £20 million lying around,” McElhenney admitted.
In 2023, Wrexham missed out on £20 million from the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund — roughly $25 million at the time. The money was meant to help redevelop the Kop, the stand behind one of the goals.
The cameras on Welcome to Wrexham caught their reaction. Reynolds called it a huge problem. Their adviser said they would have to find another way. Ryan broke the tension with a joke: “I’ll sell one of my children.”
Later that year, with the permanent redevelopment still unresolved, the club announced a temporary stand with 2,289 seats. But there was a detail in the announcement that stood out: building it would cost more than the club expected to recover through ticket sales.
They approved it anyway.
Demand had grown, and supporters were struggling to get tickets. The board decided that getting more fans inside the ground was worth the expense.
The temporary stand opened in December 2023, as Wrexham beat Newport County 2–0. They couldn’t deliver the permanent stand yet. They could give more fans somewhere to watch.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were counting on a $25 million grant to help rebuild Wrexham’s stadium. The government said no.
“I don’t have £20 million lying around,” McElhenney admitted.
In 2023, Wrexham missed out on £20 million from the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund — roughly $25 million at the time. The money was meant to help redevelop the Kop, the stand behind one of the goals.
The cameras on Welcome to Wrexham caught their reaction. Reynolds called it a huge problem. Their adviser said they would have to find another way. Ryan broke the tension with a joke: “I’ll sell one of my children.”
Later that year, with the permanent redevelopment still unresolved, the club announced a temporary stand with 2,289 seats. But there was a detail in the announcement that stood out: building it would cost more than the club expected to recover through ticket sales.
They approved it anyway.
Demand had grown, and supporters were struggling to get tickets. The board decided that getting more fans inside the ground was worth the expense.
The temporary stand opened in December 2023, as Wrexham beat Newport County 2–0. They couldn’t deliver the permanent stand yet. They could give more fans somewhere to watch.
Ryan Reynolds wanted to throw up when he heard Wrexham had lost over $12 million. By March 2025, the club had repaid roughly $19 million in loans and interest to his and Rob McElhenney’s company.
And they still owned a stake in it.
When they took over in 2021, Wrexham was a Welsh soccer club stuck in the fifth tier of English football.
In a meeting shown on Welcome to Wrexham, they asked how much money they were losing.
“Loads,” came the answer.
The club’s adviser put the estimate above £10 million — more than $12 million at the time.
Reynolds felt sick. McElhenney wanted to know when they would get paid if they kept the club.
In April 2023, Wrexham finally won promotion back to the Football League after 15 years away.
That’s the moment in the video below.
Reynolds is struggling to process it. People had kept asking why they bought Wrexham. With the stadium celebrating around him, he had his answer:
“This is exactly why Wrexham.”
McElhenney talks about the town, the supporters, and what it means to have been welcomed into their community.
The money started coming back, too. By March 2025, the club had repaid about £15 million in shareholder loans and interest.
That was repayment of money lent to the club, not £15 million in profit.
A month later, Wrexham secured its third consecutive promotion. A team they had bought in the fifth tier was now one division below the Premier League.
They had recovered their shareholder loans while keeping a stake in what Wrexham could become.