Manchester United fans are convinced departing goalkeeper Mary Earps took a parting shot at club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
United’s women team were dealt a major blow when it was confirmed that Earps, who won Euro 2022 with England, would be leaving the club upon the expiry of her contract.
She spent five years at United and is on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after rejecting a new deal to stay in Manchester.
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Earps posted a heartfelt message to United supporters on her Instagram page and revealed the reasons for her departure, potentially firing a dig at Ratcliffe in the process.
The 31-year-old stated the club were about to undergo a ‘period of transition’ which doesn’t align with her career goals in the same week Ratcliffe stated plans for Manchester United Women were ‘still TBC’.
“Dear the United family, after five years of service to your great club, I have decided that it's time for a new challenge,” Earps wrote.
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“It's a decision I've gone backwards and forwards on for some time, and is not one I've made lightly.
“The club is about to undergo a period of transition, and unfortunately I don't feel it aligns with the timing of where I'm at in my career, therefore I think now is the right time to make a change and embark on a new challenge.”
Despite winning the FA Cup, it’s been a disastrous season for United Women who finished fifth in the Women’s Super League - their worst-ever WSL finish.
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Ratcliffe shocked supporters with his comments after a turbulent season, claiming focus was currently on solving issues ensconcing the men’s first-team.
He said in an interview with Bloomberg: “We haven't got into that level of detail with the women's team yet.
“We've been pretty much focused on how we resolve the first team issues, and that's been pretty full-time for the first six months."
When asked if plans for the women's side were to be confirmed, Ratcliffe replied: "Correct."
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Earps is another high-profile departure from the club following on from Alessia Russo’s move to rivals Arsenal on a free transfer.
Captain Katie Zelem has also left the club while Lucia Garcia has moved to Mexico to join Monterrey.
Topics: Manchester United, Womens Football, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Paris Saint-Germain, Womens Super League
Marcus Banks