Social media was sent into a frenzy when a Saudi Arabian sports supremo made a claim about Man United.
10:56, 09 Oct 2025Updated 10:56, 09 Oct 2025
Turki Al-Sheikh made the claim on social media.(Image: 2025 Chris Unger)
Manchester United have been surprised at the claim of a fresh takeover bid being prepared.
Sports supremo Turki Al-Sheikh has written on social media to suggest United are on the brink of new investment – causing confusion among supporters and staff within the club.
Writing on his X account, Alalshikh said: “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.”
The Saudi-based Alalshikh added to his tweet: “I hope he’s better than the previous owners.”
Alalshikh’s message was posted just hours after an interview with Sir Jim Ratcliffe was published, in which Ratcliffe gave no suggestion of planning to relinquish control at Old Trafford.
In 2023, Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe were in talks with The Raine Group, who oversaw the sale of the club on behalf of the Glazers, and both camps briefed confidence throughout the process.
However, Ratcliffe won the battle and acquired a minority stake. Sheikh Jassim made an offer of around £5.5billion to gain full control of the club, but the Qatari failed to provide proof of funds during talks.
Sheikh Jassim’s offer included a promise to clear all of United’s debt and included a separate fund directed solely for the club and the surrounding community, but his legitimacy was doubtful throughout the process.
There has been no indication that Sheikh Jassim will return to make a fresh offer for United.
Turki Al-Sheikh has made a name in boxing.(Image: Getty Images)
Alalshikh has risen to prominence as the man responsible for ‘Riyadh Season’, a six-month series of entertainment, cultural and sporting events held in the Saudi Arabian capital.
The 44-year-old is heavily involved in boxing and has been praised for the sport’s resurgence in recent years, having invested millions to arrange blockbuster fights between rival stables.
United could arrange a mid-season friendly abroad to increase revenue and Alalshikh is thought to currently be involved in discussions about arranging a game in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking about a potential mid-season friendly to raise cash, Ruben Amorim said: “We have to do it. We knew that when we missed Europe, and there’s a lot of things [to consider].
“We have our fans, the budget. We have to compensate for a lot of things. We have to do it, so we will do it. We want to be with our fans around the world, so we will put it all together to do that. if we have to do it, we have to manage and to find the space to do it [in the schedule].”
–
Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.
And finally, if you’d rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.