Manchester United may not see a complete overhaul of ownership after all.
In November 2022, the Glazer family — owners of the Premier League club — announced plans to explore a sale following public outcry by fans over mismanagement and lack of investment.
Manchester United has since drawn significant investment interest, including a potential bid by Crystal Palace part-owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer in a deal that would reportedly allow the Glazers to maintain a controlling stake in the club.
An investment in Manchester United by Harris and Blitzer — who also co-own the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils — would require them to offload their stake in Crystal Palace.
- Manchester United is valued at $4.6 billion — the third-most-valuable soccer team in the world, per Forbes.
- The Glazers, who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reportedly want at least $7.2 billion for the club.
Last week, 70-year-old British INEOS founder Jim Ratcliffe — who has an estimated net worth of $15.5 billion — started the formal bidding process for Manchester United. The bid could include Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, who had competed against Ratcliffe to buy Chelsea.
Manchester United has also attracted investor groups from the Middle East, Asia, and the U.S.
Sixth Street Denial
California-based investment firm Sixth Street, which has more than $65 billion in assets under management, has denied reports that it had considered buying a stake in Manchester United.
Sixth Street has previously worked with European soccer clubs on refinancing projects, including Real Madrid and Barcelona.
