Man Utd Expert Drops Info on Takeover Rumours After Huge Claim Made

Over the past few days, speculation over a Manchester United takeover has been growing after Saudi adviser Turki Alsheikh made some headline-grabbing comments on social media.

Alsheikh, a Saudi Arabian government official and sports promoter who is heavily involved in the boxing world, suggested United were close to being sold.

Taking to social media platform X on Thursday, he wrote: “Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of finalising a deal to sell to a new investor. I hope they’re better than the previous owners.”

Prince Saud Mishal, a member of the Saudi royal family and a rumoured United supporter, soon responded to Alalshikh's claim regarding a United takeover.

And a day later, Alsheikh played down being the investor he referred to in the above post, but once again suggested the Premier League club were in "advanced" talks with a new investor.

“My post about Manchester United’s potential sale meant one thing: the club is in an advanced negotiation phase with a new investor,” he wrote. “I’m posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it might not necessarily happen.”

Turki Alsheikh has got people talking with his posts on X. Image: Chris Unger / Contributor via Getty

Amid the rumours, those involved in The Athletic's Talk Of The Devils podcast brought up the subject during Tuesday's episode, with journalist Andy Mitten having his say on the matter.

"I don't have any evidence of the investment," said Mitten." And I'm a little bit sceptical because I've seen people before say stuff that doesn't end up being true, and then they get caught out and say, 'Whoa, I was only sort of saying what I've heard.' And they realise that there's a level of scrutiny to this, that they've got to back up what they've said."

Ian Irving, the host of the podcast, would then mention Turki Alsheikh, who initially brought up the claim.

"You think he (Turki Alsheikh) would be aware of that, though, considering his position and considering his social media following," said Irving. "He knows what impact that tweet is going to make."

Mitten replied: "I would have thought Rio Ferdinand would have been aware when he said Manchester United are going to be taken over by Qatar, which was completely baseless. Sometimes people make mistakes."

He added: "From Manchester United's perspective, they've got absolutely no idea of this, but the Glazers are hardly going to be ringing around journalists to say what it is."

It was suggested last week that a consortium based in the United Arab Emirates are interested in launching a takeover bid for United.

A report from the Daily Mail claims that the consortium is 'considering' making an offer to the Glazer family, and that they have approached several former United players about being involved in the project as ambassadors.