Exclusive: Insider drops Man United takeover update after Saudi claim
Saudi investors are unlikely to be behind the potential takeover of Manchester United, sources have told Football Insider.
Speculation around a Man United takeover has ramped up over the past few hours following a new update from Turki Al-Sheikh.
The Saudi sports chief revealed on Wednesday (8 October) Man United are in an advanced stage of completing a sale to a new investor, adding he hope’s they are “better than the previous owners”.
However, an expert in the Saudi sports market has told Football Insider Al-Sheikh’s claim is being treated purely as speculation rather than fact at this moment in time.
It is understood any potential new Man United investor is unlikely to be based in the Middle Eastern country.
Glazers could activate Man United takeover clause
In terms of the ownership structure at Old Trafford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased a 27.7 per cent stake in Man United in February 2024 after agreeing a £1.25billion deal with the Glazers, valuing the club at close to £5bn.
The INEOS chief was selected as the preferred bidder ahead of Sheikh Jassim, who wanted to secure a full takeover but failed to provide proof of funds.
However, the Glazers’s drag-along rights in Man United came into effect in August, 18 months after their deal with Ratcliffe was agreed.
It gives the American family the power to sell their stake and also force Ratcliffe into a sale in a full takeover of the club.
Ratcliffe has increased his stake in Man United to 28.9 per cent after injecting £238million since initially investing in the club.
Meanwhile, the Glazers, who bought a 98 per cent stake at Old Trafford in 2005 for £790m, have since seen their shareholding diluted to 48.9 per cent.
Although there’s a possibility the drag-along rights have been activated, there is currently little credible evidence to suggest that is the case.
Man United are required to report any significant investor updates to the New York Stock Exchange, but sources say that is only necessary once an official approach has been made.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe could agree full Man United takeover
The Glazers could land an extra £2.5bn if they were to trigger a sale, with the club likely commanding a valuation in excess of £5bn.
However, finance expert Stefan Borson told Football Insider on 15 September Ratcliffe could look to agree a full Man United takeover to avoid a third-party swooping in to buy the club.
Ratcliffe is currently working on plans to build Man United’s new 100,000-seater stadium after the project was announced earlier this year.
The Old Trafford chief has insisted he wants the new stadium, which the club believe will cost around £2bn, to be the “world’s greatest” and potentially be completed within five years.
In terms of matters on the pitch, Ruben Amorim’s side currently sit 10th in the Premier League table after picking up 10 points from their opening seven games of the season.
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