Manchester United owners the Glazer family planning Old Trafford and Wembley double

The Glazers, presently planning a partial flotation of Manchester United on the Singapore Stock Exchange, have been criticised by Buccaneers fans in recent months for appearing to prioritise United ahead of the NFL franchise.

But with the Americans also being subjected to hostility from United supporters since their leveraged takeover of the club in May 2005, co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer and director Bryan Glazer, are keen to ensure that every effort is made to attend both fixtures this weekend.

Although the Glazers have been regular visitors to fixtures at Old Trafford since the supporter-led green-and-gold campaign against their ownership during the 2009/10 campaign, the family’s passion for American football has often seen them attend more United games in the latter stages of the campaign with it coinciding with the NFL off-season.

The Glazers regard this Sunday’s fixtures as hugely important both for United and the Bucs, however, with Joel, Avram and Bryan determined to explore every means of attending both.

With United’s Premier League clash with Manchester City kicking off at 1.30pm and the Bucs NFL International Series game against the Chicago Bears due to start at 6pm, seeing both games has not been ruled out by the Glazers, who have the use of their own private jet. 

However, if it proves impossible to take their seats at both Old Trafford and Wembley, it is likely that at least one member of the family will attend each game in order to avoid accusations of favouritism of one team over the other.

Meanwhile, United defender Chris Smalling has claimed that the derby against City has now become the biggest fixture in the club’s season.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted last week that United’s encounters with Liverpool were the number one on the club’s fixture list, but Smalling believes that City’s emergence has made the Manchester derby the biggest game of all.

Smalling said: “I was on the bench at Eastlands last year and then I played in the Old Trafford game and the build up was immense, so I cannot begin to think what this next few days will be like.

“It is one game I want to win more than any other. I think this is the biggest game and biggest derby we face now.

“City have been investing and growing steadily and have hit some great form this season.

“I think they are an even bigger threat this year than last. Given the amount of changes they’ve made and another year on and they are tighter as a bunch of players and more together.”