Manchester United sources are not aware of any takeover talks amid speculation the club could be for sale again.
Saudi sports supremo Turki Al-Sheikh raised the intriguing prospect of a fresh takeover bid by claiming on Wednesday night that United are in advanced talks to sell the club.
Al-Sheikh posted: ‘The best news I heard today is that Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor – I hope he’s better than the previous owners.’
The comment caught United by surprise, and Old Trafford insiders said on Thursday that they don’t know where his information has come from.
Al-Sheikh, the head of the General Entertainment Authority responsible for bringing some of the world’s highest-profile sports events to Saudi Arabia, is understood to be in talks with the club over a potential friendly game during Riyadh Season.
Under the drag-along right included in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover when he bought 27.7 per cent of United for £1.3billion from the Glazer family at the start of last year, he cannot stop the Americans selling the club after 18 months – a clause that took effect on August 13.
It means the Glazers could feasibly be in secret talks with potential buyers without Ratcliffe or United knowing about it, although there is nothing at present to substantiate Al-Sheikh’s claim.
The post to his 7.2m followers on social media was all the more intriguing because United are believed to be discussing the possibility of playing in the Riyadh Season Cup against Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, which would be worth upwards of £10m, or a one-off game against a Saudi club or the SPL All-Stars.
