Manchester United’s owners the Glazer family say they are considering selling the club as they “explore strategic alternatives”.
The Americans bought the Old Trafford outfit for £790m ($1.34bn) in 2005 and are willing to listen to offers for the club after a 17-year reign dominated by fan protests and declining on-pitch performance.
A statement from the club said the board will “consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the company”.
It added that the process “will include an assessment of several initiatives to strengthen the club, including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, and expansion of the club’s commercial operations on a global scale” to enhance “the long-term success of the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams, and bringing benefits to fans and other stakeholders”.
In 2012, the Glazers sold 10% of their holding via a stock listing and have sold further shares in the following years.
“As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the board has authorised a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives,” said executive co-chairmen and directors Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer.
“We will evaluate all options to ensure that we best serve our fans and that Manchester United maximizes the significant growth opportunities available to the club today and in the future.
“Throughout this process we will remain fully focused on serving the best interests of our fans, shareholders, and various stakeholders.”
The Glazer family have owned NFL side Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 1995 and Avram Glazer bought a team in the new United Arab Emirates Twenty20 cricket league in 2021.
Joel and Avram took over the day-to-day running of United after their father Malcolm suffered a stroke in April 2006. Billionaire Malcolm died aged 85 in 2014.
If the club – valued at around £5bn – is sold, it is expected to be purchased by US investors.
The Raine Group, which facilitated the sale of Chelsea over the summer, is acting as United’s exclusive financial adviser, with Rothschild and Co performing the same role to the Glazer family shareholders.
The statement from the club added: “There can be no assurance that the review being undertaken will result in any transaction involving the company.
“Manchester United does not intend to make further announcements regarding the review unless and until the board has approved a specific transaction or other course of action requiring a formal announcement.”
United, who are fifth in the Premier League, have not won the title since 2013 and have not won a trophy since claiming the Europa League and EFL Cup in 2017.
United were part of the failed European Super League project which rapidly collapsed in April 2021. Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer later apologised for the unrest caused.
He has since attended fans’ forums in the wake of supporter unrest and pledged to make shares available to the club’s followers.
Manchester United’s share price immediately rose by 17 per cent as a result, adding almost $400m (£336.4m) to the club’s market capitalisation, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire.
According to Transfermarkt, United have a net spend of 1.36bn euros (£1.18bn) on transfers under the Glazers, with only Manchester City having a higher figure in that period.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Manchester United with immediate effect on Tuesday, criticised the club ownership in a controversial interview last week saying the Glazer family “don’t care about the club” on the sporting side.
The move to sell United comes after Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said Fenway Sports Group were “exploring a sale” of the Anfield club.
A Bloomberg report in August 2022 said the Glazer family were willing to sell a minority stake in the club.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe said he would be interested in buying United before he stated in October that the Glazer family had told him they did not want to sell.
