Al Sheikh added: “Yesterday’s post about a possible sale of Manchester United means one thing: the club is in an advanced stage of negotiations with a new investor.”
“Just to be clear, I’m not an investor and they’re not from my country. I’m posting this as a fan hoping for a deal to happen, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen.”
The Daily Mail later reported that Al-Sheikh may have ignored his comments.
A group of UAE-based investors are said to be interested in making a takeover bid for the Glazer family. However, they are yet to make contact with United’s majority owners and there is no suggestion that a deal is close at this time.
Al Sheikh’s comments reportedly surprised the Red Devils, with executives claiming they had no idea where the information came from.
Sports bosses are thought to be in talks with United about hosting the match during the Riyadh season, an initiative comprising entertainment, cultural and sporting events aimed at promoting Saudi Arabia.
The UAE consortium’s plans are believed to be at an early stage and there is no guarantee that a formal takeover offer will materialize. However, they are said to have already contacted some former players about joining the project as ambassadors.
A Qatari investment group led by Sheikh Jassim Al Thani unsuccessfully tried to buy United before Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a minority stake last year. The agreement includes a “drag-along” clause and went into effect in August.
This means the Glazer family can enter into negotiations with outside investors without Mr Ratcliffe’s knowledge and force him to sell his stake in the club.
This raises questions about the dynamic between United’s long-term majority owner and Ratcliffe, who oversees football operations at Old Trafford.
Just days ago, the INEOS billionaire claimed that the Glazers did not have the authority to demand the firing of manager Ruben Amorim.
“We’re local and they (the Glazers) are across the pond,” he told the Times. “Trying to run a football club as big and complex as Manchester United is a long way off.
“We’re here with our feet on the ground. They get a bad rap, but they’re really good people and really passionate about the club.”
