Manchester United Sale Nears Completion! Saudi Entertainment Chief Hints: “We’re in the Final Stages — Hoping to Be Better Than the Previous Owners”

On Thursday, Saudi Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh sparked excitement across social media by hinting that Manchester United may be preparing to sell the club to new investors.

Al-Sheikh shared his thoughts online, writing:

“The happiest news I’ve heard today is that Manchester United is now in the final stages of completing a sale to new investors. I hope they will be better than the previous owners.”

His post quickly went viral, garnering nearly one million views in just a few hours. The Daily Mail noted, however, that it remains unclear whether Al-Sheikh’s remarks carry any real substance or were simply a pointed criticism aimed at the club’s current owners, the Glazer family, and minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Back in 2024, the Glazers rejected a full takeover offer from Sheikh Jassim Al-Thani’s Qatari consortium, instead opting to sell 27.7% of the club’s shares to Ratcliffe for £1.25 billion.

The Daily Mail also reported that Al-Sheikh is extending an invitation for Manchester United to play an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia, possibly against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. Should the friendly go ahead, United would receive a €5 million appearance fee — a significant jump from the €1 million the club earned when it last visited the kingdom in 2008, when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side faced Al Hilal.

With no European competition this season and an early League Cup exit to Grimsby Town, Manchester United now finds itself with ample time for such international friendlies — a rare window that could soon bring the Red Devils back to Saudi soil after 35 years.