Exclusive 💣: Billionaire linked to Manchester United
Sources close to the situation say members of the Glazer family are again considering whether to sell some or all of their remaining stake in Manchester United.
The discussions are understood to have started among individual family members and then widened, with some hoping others will join a broader sale.
That would be consistent with reporting earlier this summer that the family has been studying options after more than two decades of ownership.
United’s structure still matters. The Glazers retain majority voting control through Class B shares. INEOS, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, holds a minority stake of just under 29 per cent and already runs football operations.
Any serious change in ownership would therefore involve more than a simple share sale. Drag-along provisions from the 2024 deal also remain part of the picture if a full-club transaction ever materialises.
Interest from the Middle East is being mentioned again. One name circulating among sources is a high-profile investor linked to DAMAC Properties, the Dubai-based group founded by Hussain Sajwani. Sajwani’s fortune is estimated in the mid-teens of billions of dollars. That would put him among the few private investors theoretically able to look at an asset of United’s scale.
There is no public confirmation of a formal bid.
We asked a source familiar with INEOS whether the group would seek full ownership if the Glazers put a controlling stake on the market. There was no comment.
Nothing is agreed. Family members are not united, valuations would be high because of the voting rights attached to the Glazer shares, and previous processes have collapsed. But the direction of travel is clear: some of the current owners are looking at an exit, and well-capitalised overseas investors are watching.
This needs to be made abundantly clear.
If the wheels fall off this season because of a lack of squad depth, the *majority* of the frustration needs to be pointed at INEOS.
Less so at Michael Carrick. The manager isn't a punchbag for the ownership's failures.
👀🚨 FACTS about INEOS era:
Feb 2024: Jim Ratcliffe buys 27.7% for £1.3B, takes control of football operations.
Promise: "Fix Carrington, fix Old Trafford, fix recruitment, bring back United".
What he did in 12 months (2024):
- Sacked 250 staff members to "cut costs" - including tea lady who worked 20 years, scout who found Rashford, kitman who worked 30 years. Saved £10m/year.
- Raised ticket prices to £66 minimum, removed concessions for kids and OAPs. Fans protested.
- Kept Old Trafford leaking, said "we need government money to build new stadium" while INEOS worth £20B.
- Gave Erik ten Hag new contract June 2024 after winning FA Cup, sacked him Oct 2024, paid £15m compensation.
- Hired Dan Ashworth from Newcastle for £20m compensation (gardening leave), sacked him after 5 months Dec 2024, paid another £3m.
- Hired Amorim Nov 2024, spent £200m in Jan 2025 window.
Total spent on sacking and hiring in 12 months INEOS: ~£45m on managers/directors compensation.
Total saved on sacking 250 normal staff: £10m.
We sacked 250 people earning £30k/year to pay £45m to 3 rich men who left in 5 months.
That is not football management. That is billionaire playing Football Manager with real jobs.
And we finished 15th after all that. Worst ever.
INEOS promised to be different from Glazers. But they acted same - ruthless to small people, wasteful with big money.
#Ineosout
#Glazersout
#MUFC🛑
Carlos Baleba £70m
Andrey Santos £50m
Youri Tielemans £35m
No major outgoings, Zirkzee still here, Rashford back, no left back and no centre back.
If you’d have said to ANY Manchester Utd fan back in early June that would be our transfer window EVERY SINGLE ONE would be fuming
my body scan, can’t wait for GTA 6 on November 19th. thank you @rockstargames for making one of my biggest dreams come true. this is for all the gorditas in the world, we are finally being included in the BIGGEST game ever 🙏🏼