First let me say of course men and women can be friends. I'm my circle there are several men I call friends. What I'm specifically talking about are those very close friendships where they almost always meet up 121, are "best" friends, know intimate details of each other's lives. They may have met partners the odd time but partners aren't generally included in the friendship or meet ups.
Is it just me or do these (often) middle aged men only ever have these kinds of friendships with women younger and more attractive than them? The kind of women they'd be punching above their weight if they had a romantic/sexual relationship with, although of course they'll claim that's not what they want anyway.
I know two men who have a number of these kinds of friendships. I think the women genuinely do see them as friends, very useful father figure type friends who will do their DIY and pick them up if they need it late at night, be emotional crutches when they're between relationships, but I'm not convinced at all about the men's motives. They never seem to have these close "plationic" relationships with women older or less attractive than them.