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Topics: Manchester United, Liverpool, Atalanta, Premier League
Ryan Smart
Topics: Manchester United, Liverpool, Atalanta, Premier League
US billionaire Stephen Pagliuca has hinted that he is keen on investing in a Premier League club - which could have an impact on any Manchester United takeover.
The United takeover process is still ongoing, with various proposals for a full, majority or minority sale of the club on the table.
Pagliuca, who is currently the co-owner of NBA franchise Boston Celtics and Italian Serie A side Atalanta, was previously linked with an interest in investing in Liverpool.
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Speaking at the Financial Times' Business of Football Summit in March, the 68-year-old admitted that he had eyed potential investment in Liverpool prior to the club's current owners, Fenway Sports Group, taking over in 2011.
During an appearance on the Bloomberg Talks podcast (via This is Anfield), meanwhile, Pagliuca has hinted that his private investment firm, Bain Capital, could potentially cast its net wider across the entire Premier League.
He explained: "A league like the Premier League, if three or four teams are owned by a sovereign with basically unlimited investment, to be in the Champions League there is basically only one spot left for the other 16 teams that don't have those kind of resources.
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"We're assessing opportunities [in the Premier League]. I think there's a higher bar there than there would have been, in terms that you have to be sure you have an academy and a structure where you can keep up with the economic disparity."
How could Pagliuca impact on Man Utd takeover?
The US businessman has a net worth of £3 billion, according to Wallmine, meaning he would not be able to match the Glazers' reported £6 billion asking price for United himself.
But he could potentially offer minority investment in the club, and his vast experience of decision-making at both Boston Celtics and Atalanta could appeal to the Glazers.
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Naturally, that would impact the other runners in the race to take over United.
Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim - through his Nine Two Foundation - wants to complete a full takeover of the club. Meanwhile, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, his petrochemicals company, are targeting a majority takeover.
If Pagliuca does decide to opt for minority investment in United, and is successful, it would certainly change United's outlook compared to if a full takeover was completed.