Man Utd's £5bn valuation speaks volumes after new Glazers takeover suspicions raised

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Any prospective owners or investors in Manchester United would have to grapple with the club's staggering valuation if they wish to seal a deal. The Glazer family, who are the majority owners of United, have been on the receiving end of intense backlash from fans for their stewardship of the club since the Reds' leveraged buyout in 2005 saddled it with significant debt - currently estimated at around £1.29 billion.

British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 27.7 per cent stake in United in a £1.25 billion deal at the start of 2024, following an agreement with the Glazers. The Ineos founder was granted control over footballing and strategic matters at the club; however, there is still chatter about potential investment at Old Trafford as future plans are being formulated.

But former Premier League club chief executive Keith Wyness has recently expressed scepticism about new investment and believes the Glazers will have had talks. The ex-Everton and Aston Villa CEO suggests that Ratcliffe may have little influence in any potential takeover discussions at United and believes further investment will aid them in financing their new stadium project.

Any potential interest would have to take into account the club's jaw-dropping value - currently estimated by Forbes at $6.6bn (£4.9bn) in May last year. This valuation places United second on the global list of clubs, trailing only Real Madrid at $6.7bn.

In 2023, the Glazers were in discussions with Qatari billionaire Sheikh Jassim about a potential takeover, with the Nine Two Foundation established to facilitate the deal.

A statement at the time declared: " Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani today [Friday February 17] confirmed his submission of a bid for 100 per cent of Manchester United Football Club.

"The bid plans to return the club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and - above all - will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once more.

"The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim's Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the club supports.

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"The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world . More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops."

However, the bid never materialised, with the Glazers choosing instead to sell a minority stake to Ratcliffe. It appears that Jassim has now abandoned any plans for a takeover through the company.

Companies House records reveal that the Nine Two Foundation was voluntarily dissolved in September 2024, following notice given three months prior.

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There is currently nothing concrete to suggest that United are considering a takeover or exploring fresh investment, but the fact that Ratcliffe's tenure has been dominated by cost-cutting amid huge plans to splash out on a new 100,000-seater stadium is something worth noting.

Updates on United's stadium plans, which were confirmed in March last year, have been few and far between since the turn of the year, with the club still considering designs, funding and working on an agreement to buy the land around their current ground.

The club's chief operating officer, Collette Roche, did, however, reveal some news last month, saying: “Constructive discussions are continuing with landowners around Old Trafford as we seek to assemble the land required to build a new stadium.

“Design and planning will follow once we have clarity on the size and location of land available to build on.”