Chelsea and Manchester United are not huge rivals in a historical sense, in the way that, for example United and Liverpool are. They are not, of course, local rivals either. But there is no denying that clashes between these two giants of the English game have certainly had a little extra spice in the 21st century.
There is a range of reasons for this but the biggest and most obvious is that for several years they were direct rivals for the biggest trophies. When Roman Abramovich purchased Chelsea he sought to turn them into the best football team in the world and one might well say he succeeded. He invested huge sums of money into the club and that disrupted the established elite and resulted in Chelsea winning just about everything on offer.
In 2005 they won their first Premier League crown, ahead of Man United who finished third. 12 months on they defended their crown, with the Red Devils second… and Sir Alex Ferguson started to get rather upset about things. Over the years that followed the two would repeatedly go head to head, even meeting in the final of the Champions League in 2008.
In more recent times both have slipped off the pace somewhat but they have still gone up against each other in two ways. First, they have both been chasing the same Champions League places, or even just European qualification. Second, they have frequently chased the same transfer targets, and Angel Gomes could be the latest example of that.
Comparing Chelsea and Manchester United’s Global Fanbases
CasinoAlpha, a reviewer of online betting platforms, has highlighted that many sites promote betting on Chelsea matches. Chelsea’s global popularity has a significant fanbase extending beyond the UK. This broad international appeal drives interest in betting on their games, particularly due to the club’s consistent presence in top-level European football competitions.
Man United have often been the most valuable club in the world according to sources like Forbes and football’s accountants of choice Deloitte. That is in large part down to their huge global fanbase, with their sustained success from the 1990s a big part of that. The club themselves claim to have a “global community of 1.1 billion fans and followers”. That is a vaguely defined metric and might be a stretch but they are undoubtedly one of the best-supported teams anywhere.
Chelsea have a lot of catching up to do but they have certainly made inroads following the success they found under Abramovich. They have had many exceptional African players, such as Didier Drogba, and that has given them a huge following on that continent. With Todd Boehly’s vast commercial expertise and all the exciting new players the club have signed from around the globe, it is probably fair to say the Blues will continue to grow their global fanbase.
Angel Gomes: A Key Player in the Transfer Battle
The latest player the two clubs are set to do battle over, though more teams are interested too, is Lille ace Angel Gomes. Still just 24, the England international was a Man United youth product but the midfielder opted to leave the club after receiving only limited playing time. There were concerns in England about his size, even though he had played for various England age-group teams.
His career has really flourished in France and alongside starring with the England U21 team that won the 2023 Euros, he has been a mainstay with his new club. Now a central midfielder who primarily defends, he offers great control in the middle of the pitch. His market value has soared over the past few years and it is easy to see why Chelsea, United and a number of other clubs are keen to bring him back to the Premier League.
How Transfers Reflect the Ongoing Rivalry
Gomes will leave Lille and it is a matter of where to, and when, rather than if. The Blues and United are both said to be interested and how the transfer saga plays out will have an impact on the rivalry between the clubs both on the pitch and in terms of the fans. United will feel they should be in pole position given Gomes was with them from the age of six, but Chelsea probably look a more attractive proposition right now. Whichever side comes out on top, the fans will certainly feel they have got one over on the other, especially if Boehly and co can lure the youngster away from his boyhood club.
Fandoms, Rivalries, and Transfers
In many ways, the battle to sign the London-born player can be seen as a microcosm of the rivalry. Both clubs are looking to get back among the elite and the transfer market is a key battleground. Winning these battles gives fans something to feel positive and optimistic about, whilst they can play a part in winning the wider war, which is to once again challenge for the Premier League title.
There is also an interesting subplot here, because it is not the first time both teams have been after a Lille player. Back in 2012 Chelsea saw off competition from United to land Eden Hazard, which we are taking as quite a good omen!