25/11/2022
Where will next Man Utd owners come from?
On the subject of who Man Utd’s next owners could be, a vast assortment of potential buyers have been named.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a known United fan and is believed to be exploring a bid having failed to acquire Chelsea. Ratcliffe is the UK’s richest man with a reported net worth of around £13.5b, per Forbes.
Dubai have drawn mentions, while the Manchester Evening News put Amancio Ortega in the frame. Ortega owns the Inditex empire that operates fashion chain Zara.
The Daily Star claimed Apple were interested, though that’s since been refuted by CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs. In his words, Apple have ‘no interest’ in acquiring Manchester United.
Qatar have also been linked and already have influence in football through owning PSG. However, Sky declare they are not a contender for United.
Instead, they shed light on the likeliest place the next owners will emerge from, pointing the finger towards America.
They claim the fact 25 percent of United’s shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange make it far easier to sell to US-based consortiums.
On that front, it’s noted famous sportspeople with Man Utd connections are expected to be approached to help front up any bids. David Beckham and United fan Rory McIlroy are two examples cited.
What’s sparked Liverpool and Man Utd decisions?
Explaining why Liverpool and Man Utd have determined this is the right time to cash in, Sky’s Melissa Reddy claimed the answer is three-fold.
Chelsea’s £2.5b sale has proved a watershed moment, while the failed European Super League and fears over their ability to compete with state-run clubs like Man City and Newcastle are also significant factors.
“It is in large part sparked by the £4.25bn takeover of Chelsea,” said Reddy.
“Sky Sports News has been told the Glazers and Fenway Sports Group have been advised for months it is a “peak period” for the valuation of top clubs, as told by the fact the west London side commanded such a staggering