Avram Glazer, a co-owner of Manchester United, reportedly spoke with Saudi Arabian and Qatari investors.
After receiving much criticism during their tenure, the Glazer family has stated that they will “explore strategic alternatives” at Old Trafford, with “new investment into the club, a sale or other transactions” being considered.
There have been rumors that a deal worth between £6-7 billion ($7-8bn) would be sufficient to enable a takeover of Premier League giants. The Raine Group has been chosen to serve as United’s exclusive financial advisor.
The American has other business interests in the area, and there has been no official comment on whether declarations of intent have been made, but The Athletic reports that discussions have taken place between Avram Glazer and potentially interested parties during his 2022 World Cup visit to Doha.
Avram Glazer on Man Utd sale
When questioned recently about the takeover rumors swirling around United, Glazer responded: “It’s not necessarily a sale, it’s a process and we’re going forward with the process, so we’ll see what happens. That’s the update, it’s the process and the process is proceeding.”
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the sports minister for Saudi Arabia, has expressed a desire for potential investors in his area to look into buying United, telling Sky Sports in November: “I hope so, if there are investors and the numbers add up, and it makes a good business. Then the private sector could come in, or companies could come in, from the kingdom. The Premier League is the best league in the world. Everyone’s watching the Premier League. It’s the most watched league and there are diehard fans of these teams in the kingdom. So it would be a benefit for everyone.”
The Glazers have encountered opposition from United supporters throughout their tenure as the club’s owners, and many of them want to see changes made in the executive suite during the 2022–23 season, when Erik ten Hag will try to end the club’s six-year drought for a major trophy.