A member of the Saudi Arabia Royal Family has responded to Turki Alalshikh's extraordinary claim about a Manchester United takeover.
In December 2023, it was confirmed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe officially completed a deal to acquire an initial 25% stake in United, said to be worth more than £1 billion.
Qatar chief Sheikh Jassim had been Ratcliffe's man rival in a bid but he and INEOS assumed operations in February 2024 and have been at the centre of all major football decisions.
The Glazers family still remain majority owners of the 13-time Premier League winners and Ratcliffe's addition has not proved popular after a number of controversial cost-cutting measures and a lack of progress on the pitch.
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On Wednesday night, Alalshikh sent United supporters into overdrive when he claimed that he had "heard" news of potential new investment in United being close.
Taking to social media platform X, Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, wrote: "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."
The post from the 44-year-old, who previously owned Egyptian side Pyramids and Spanish outfit Almeria, was a cryptic one as he did not give much information away.
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However, in the replies was an appearance from Prince Saud Mishal, a member of the Saudi royal family and a rumoured United supporter.
Mishal, who has a blue tick on the platform responded to Alalshikh's post with a prayer hand emoji.
The prince is an entrepreneur, businessman, and CEO of Al-Manahil Holding - with a focus on investments in retail, entertainment and lifestyle as part of the country's Vision 2030 reform.
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But he is also chairman of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, founded in January and has been tasked with growing the sport in the country.
He posts regularly about his endeavours on Instagram, where he has over 30,000 followers.
Alalshikh did not specifically reference Saudi in his post but said he was hopeful that the mystery buyer he mentioned would "better" than previous owners.
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However, despite difficulties on and off the pitch, Ratcliffe defended his stint at Old Trafford and expressed optimism for the future of the club, who are not playing in European football this season.
"If you look at our results for last year we have the highest revenues ever. Profitability, the second highest ever," Ratcliffe told The Business Podcast,
"We're not seeing all the benefits of the restructuring that we've done in this set of results, and we were not in the Champions League. Those numbers will get better.
"Manchester United will become the most profitable football club in the world, in my view, and from that will stem, I hope, a long-term, sustainable, high-level of football."
Topics: Saudi Arabia, Premier League, Manchester United
Josh Lawless