Man United Potential Sale: Saudi Official hints at Advanced Deal for New Investor

Saudi sports leader Turki Al-Sheikh has suggested that Manchester United may soon be sold to a new owner. Posting on social media, Al-Sheikh indicated that the club is in a late stage of finalizing a deal with a fresh investor, subtly criticizing the current ownership.

United’s current majority owners, the Glazer family, previously rejected a takeover bid from Sheikh Jassim Al-Thani’s Qatari group, which sold 27.7% of the club to Sir Jim Ratcliffe for £1.25 billion last year. Despite this, Al-Sheikh expressed optimism, saying, “The best news today is that Manchester United is close to selling to a new investor — I hope he’s better than the previous ones.”

While the truth behind Al-Sheikh’s claims remains unconfirmed, the statement has garnered widespread attention, with nearly a million views early Thursday. The potential sale also coincides with discussions about United exploring commercial opportunities in Saudi Arabia, including mid-season friendly matches, which could generate over £10 million for the club.

The club is considering various options to fill its fixture calendar and improve finances, including participation in the Riyadh Season Cup, a tournament featuring Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and possibly other teams, which could earn United around £5 million per game. Alternatively, they might play a friendly against a Saudi All-Star team or arrange a warm-weather training camp, potentially against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, returning significant revenue.

Any of these initiatives would likely see costs covered by the Saudi hosts, including travel and accommodation. With limited European fixtures due to recent eliminations, United has ample space in their schedule for such events, which could also aid their commercial and branding efforts overseas.