Sir Jim Ratcliffe could play a big but indirect role in any potential Manchester United takeover following big claims about an investor this week
12:47, 11 Oct 2025Updated 12:48, 11 Oct 2025
Turki Al-Sheikh has sparked Manchester United takeover talk(Image: (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix))
Manchester United takeover rumours have been rife over the last few days with a potential timeline clear. Talk of outside investment was sparked by major comments on social media from prominent Saudi official Turki Al-Sheikh.
On Wednesday, he wrote to X: “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.”
Talk of a full club takeover unsurprisingly began after such a significant claim, but the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority later clarified his comments. “My yesterday’s post about Manchester United’s potential sale meant one thing: the club is in an advanced negotiation phase with a new investor,” he said on Thursday.
READ MORE: Man United takeover latest as bidder breaks silence and UAE backers approach investorsREAD MORE: Man United latest: Duo to replace Ruben Amorim named as Turki Al-Sheikh makes takeover remark
“Just to clarify, I am not the investor, nor are they from my nation. I’m posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it might not necessarily happen.”
A report from talkSPORT have shed further light on the mystery investor, or potential investors, with the group Al-Sheikh is referring to claimed to be UAE-based. It has also been reported that several club legends have been ‘approached’ about possibly investing into United.
The Glazers have more recently been open to minority investment, though selling the club still appears unlikely given their demands to want roughly £5billion. A thorough update from the The Athletic has backed up the likelihood of no full takeover happening until after 2026.
Avram Glazer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe(Image: (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images))
That is because of the current share prices to have a stake in United, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe paying $33 per-share and a ‘drag-along rights’ mechanism being activated 18 months after his his purchase that prevents him from stopping a full takeover if that is what the Glazers want.
This clause also impacts a potential sale if it is sought before February 2027 with Ratcliffe required to receive what he paid in full. Beyond that date, however, the Glazers can accept any amount which means the Ineos chief could lose millions.
With that in mind, it is much more likely any potential investors wait until that date has passed in order to pay less with the price per share being much lower.
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