Manchester United are reportedly the object of a potential takeover from Arab investors, as the Glazers set their selling price.
The unpopular American investors have owned the majority of the club’s shares for 20 years, but their grasp over the Red Devils has softened in recent years. In February 2024, the Glazer family sold 27.7% of the club’s shares to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, while handing him and his group, INEOS, the reins to run the sporting project.
However, the results have yet to improve following Ratcliffe’s arrival. If anything, Man Utd hit new lows last season, finishing in a horrific 15th place in the Premier League table.
Therefore, the fanbase continues to vigorously protest the Glazers’ rule, urging them to sell the club as soon as possible.
What’s the truth behind Man United takeover talks
This week, Turki Al-Sheikh stole the headlines by dropping a seismic bomb on his X account. On Wednesday night, the Saudi sports supremo claimed that Manchester United takeover negotiations have reached an advanced stage, before clarifying that the investors aren’t from the KSA.
My yesterday’s post about Manchester United’s potential sale meant one thing: the club is in an advanced negotiation phase with a new investor. Just to clarify, I am not the investor, nor are they from my nation. I’m posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it…
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) October 9, 2025
Naturally, this news sent shockwaves amongst Man Utd supporters who have been dreaming of the Glazers’ exit for years.
But according to the Daily Mail journalist Chris Wheeler, the takeover talks aren’t as advanced as depicted by Al-Sheikh.
Glazers negotiating Man Utd sale with UAE investors
As they say, there’s no smoke without fire, so Wheeler has indeed confirmed ongoing negotiations between the Glazer family and Arab investors interested in buying Man Utd, but he insists that they remain at a preliminary stage, and that it’s not guaranteed that the consortium will present the current owners with a formal bid.
However, the journalist rules out the involvement of wealthy Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim, who launched an unsuccessful attempt to buy the club in 2023. In fact, Wheeler identifies the group as investors from the UAE.
Moreover, the source claims that the Glazer family is willing to sell their shares in Man Utd for an offer worth £5 billion.
Interestingly, Ratcliffe might not have a say at all in the whole debacle, as his agreement with the Glazers includes a ‘drag along’ clause that allows the majority owners to negotiate a sale without his knowledge and force him to sell his shares as well.
