From hand to hand – is Manchester United being sold again?

Manchester United’s ownership saga has once again grabbed headlines — this time sparked by a post from Saudi Arabia’s influential sporting director, Turki Al-Sheikh.

Al-Sheikh took to “X” to suggest that the iconic English club may be on the verge of changing hands, writing: “The best news I've heard today is that Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of negotiations for a sale to a new investor—I hope they're better than the current owners.” The message, a clear jab at the Glazer family, quickly set social media ablaze.

It’s been less than two years since the Glazers sold 27.7% of the club to British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe for 1.25 billion pounds, a stake he later raised to 28.94% with an additional 79.3 million pounds investment. Before that, the family had famously rejected a full takeover bid from Sheikh Jassim Al-Thani’s Qatari group. Could another ownership twist now be on the horizon?

At the moment, it’s unclear whether Al-Sheikh’s comments reflect genuine insider knowledge or were simply intended as criticism of United’s current hierarchy. Still, his remarks come at a time when links between the Saudi official and the club are growing stronger. Reports suggest United are negotiating a potential friendly match in Saudi Arabia this season — a move motivated by the club’s urgent need for additional revenue after missing out on European competition.

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As head of the General Entertainment Authority, Al-Sheikh oversees major sporting events in Saudi Arabia and has gained global recognition for his role in bringing high-profile boxing bouts to the Kingdom. Whether his latest post signals a real development or just adds more fuel to the ongoing speculation surrounding Manchester United’s future remains to be seen.