Revealed: The Glazers’ response to Man United takeover whispers
Man United have been subject to renewed takeover speculation in recent weeks with claims the club could soon be sold to new investors.
The Glazer family own 69 per cent of United, while they have retained “super-voting shares”, giving them the controlling power in terms of voting rights.
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 £5billion.
However, their position is being questioned after Saudi Arabian government official Turki Al-Sheikh claimed Man United are in the stages of completing a sale to a new investor.
United fans have spent years protesting against their U.S.A-based owners, and could now be closing in on major changes at the top of the club.
Glazers in no rush to agree Man United takeover
Football Insider revealed last month that the Glazers could be open to a sale of Man United once more progress is made on their new stadium project.
The Glazers’s drag-along rights in Man United came into effect in August, 18 months after their deal with Ratcliffe was agreed, meaning they could force Ratcliffe into a sale in a full-scale takeover.
However, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the controversial owners are not expected to rush into a decision regarding the sale of the club and currently have no intentions of entertaining offers.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, I explained: “There’s been no word from inside Manchester United that anything is happening or anything is close.
“The Glazers are not really rushing in to sell Man United. They could have sold them many times in the past because there has been interest from Middle Eastern investors.
“They know what the global brand is worth and it’s been very profitable for them. I don’t think they’ll be rushing there.
“They felt, with the investment from INEOS, that they could help take Man United to the next level and ease any protests against their ownership. So I don’t think there’s anything immediate in this.
“Obviously, United will always be an attractive proposition to investors because of such a commercial and marketable juggernaut in Europe and world football.
“So that’s why they’ll always be interested in it. I’m a bit sceptical about all this latest situation about a potential takeover.
“We’ve seen it before and nothing’s really materialised and as I said, I don’t think the Glazers will rush into making any decisions on the selling the club as well.
“They seem quite content with how things are going at the minute.”
Meanwhile, The Glazers could land an extra £2.5bn if they were to trigger the sale of Man United, with the club now likely commanding a valuation in excess of £5billion.
Man United takeover unlikely after the word from the club
Football Insider revealed on 17 October that no takeover of Man United is close despite recent claims, with the word from the club insisting nothing is imminent.
Al-Sheikh later clarified that he was not the investor in question despite his claim, with reports claiming the interest in Man United comes from a UAE-based consortium.
However, while United remain an attractive proposition to investors as a result of their marketability, there are no suggestions that a takeover will happen soon.
Football finance expert Stefan Borson told Football Insider on 13 October that a full takeover of Man United is unlikely given the ongoing on-pitch issues at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have won three, drawn one and lost three of their opening seven games and face a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on 19 October.
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