Man Utd up for sale? Saudi chief claims new investor deal ‘almost done’

Saudi Arabia’s sports boss, Turki Al-Sheikh, has set tongues wagging after hinting that Manchester United could soon have a new owner.

In a post on X on Wednesday night, Al-Sheikh claimed that United are “in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor” — before adding a thinly veiled jab at the club’s current owners, saying he hopes the new investor will be “better than the previous owners.”

The post quickly went viral, racking up close to one million views in hours and sparking fresh speculation over the Red Devils’ ownership.

United’s American owners, the Glazer family, came under fire last year after rejecting a full takeover offer from Sheikh Jassim Al-Thani’s Qatari group. Instead, they sold 27.7 percent of the club to British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe for £1.25 billion.

It remains unclear whether Al-Sheikh’s claim has any truth to it or if it was a subtle dig at both the Glazers and Ratcliffe. But his words have certainly added fuel to ongoing frustrations among fans still divided over United’s ownership structure.

The timing of the claim also comes as United explore ways to plug financial gaps. Reports suggest the club could earn up to £10 million if they agree to play a series of mid-season friendly matches in Saudi Arabia during the Riyadh Season — an event overseen by none other than Al-Sheikh himself.

Sources say United are in talks to either participate in the Riyadh Season Cup, a lucrative mini-tournament featuring Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, or play an exhibition match against a Saudi All-Star XI.

With no European football this season and early exits from domestic cups, the Red Devils have plenty of free dates on their calendar — and an estimated £100 million hole in their finances following their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham in Bilbao.

While Manchester United have not commented on Al-Sheikh’s post, his remarks have reignited a long-running question for fans worldwide: Are the Glazers finally ready to sell?