After months of speculation, Qatari&nbsp;banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has withdrawn from the process of buying Manchester United, according to multiple reports.&nbsp;The current owners of United, the Glazer family was informed about the Qatari businessman's decision late Saturday evening.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jassim's offer, which valued the club at $3.5&nbsp;billion was believed to be the only bid for 100 per cent of the club. He had committed an&nbsp;additional initial amount of over $1.5 billion for the club and was ready to finance new stadium plans, new training centre facilities,&nbsp;buy players, and fast-track city/community regeneration projects, according to football journalist Fabrizio Romano.&nbsp;

The withdrawal comes after Sheikh Jassim launched a fifth and final bid in June to get over the line. However, the reluctance of the Glazers to let go of the complete ownership of the club meant that the deal remained stuck, testing the patience of the Qatari businessman.&nbsp;

After Sheikh Jassim's withdrawal,&nbsp;British businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Group remains the only bidder. According to a BBC report, Ratcliffe is now attempting to conclude a deal for a minority stake in the club, thought to be around 25 per cent.&nbsp;

<h2>Sheikh Jassim's initial bid</h2>

Sheikh Jassim, the chairman of one of Qatar’s biggest banks had filed an initial bid for the complete ownership of the club&nbsp;in February, earlier this year, after the Glazers announced plans to sell the club in November last year.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/its-official-bids-put-in-for-manchester-united-by-qatari-banker-and-british-billionaire-563282">Also read |&nbsp;It's official! Qatari banker and British billionaire Ratcliffe submit bids for Manchester United</a>

At the time, Sheikh Jassim said he was&nbsp;putting in the bid to steer the club to its 'former glories' both on and off the pitch. Explaining how he will be changing the footballing landscape of one of the biggest clubs in the world, the statement read:&nbsp;"The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim's Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the Club supports."

For a long time, a vocal section of United fanbase has been demanding that Glazers give up their control of the club, primarily due to their poor decision-making involving the benefit of the club.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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After months of speculation, Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has withdrawn from the process of buying Manchester United, according to multiple reports.

After months of speculation, Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has withdrawn from the process of buying Manchester United, according to multiple reports. The current owners of United, the Glazer family was informed about the Qatari businessman's decision late Saturday evening. Jassim's offer, which valued the club at $3.5 billion was believed to be the only bid for 100 per cent of the club. He had committed an additional initial amount of over $1.5 billion for the club and was ready to finance new stadium plans, new training centre facilities, buy players, and fast-track city/community regeneration projects, according to football journalist Fabrizio Romano. The withdrawal comes after Sheikh Jassim launched a fifth and final bid in June to get over the line. However, the reluctance of the Glazers to let go of the complete ownership of the club meant that the deal remained stuck, testing the patience of the Qatari businessman. After Sheikh Jassim's withdrawal, British businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Group remains the only bidder. According to a BBC report, Ratcliffe is now attempting to conclude a deal for a minority stake in the club, thought to be around 25 per cent. Sheikh Jassim's initial bid Sheikh Jassim, the chairman of one of Qatar’s biggest banks had filed an initial bid for the complete ownership of the club in February, earlier this year, after the Glazers announced plans to sell the club in November last year. Also read | It's official! Qatari banker and British billionaire Ratcliffe submit bids for Manchester United At the time, Sheikh Jassim said he was putting in the bid to steer the club to its 'former glories' both on and off the pitch. Explaining how he will be changing the footballing landscape of one of the biggest clubs in the world, the statement read: "The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim's Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the Club supports." For a long time, a vocal section of United fanbase has been demanding that Glazers give up their control of the club, primarily due to their poor decision-making involving the benefit of the club. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Football: Qatar's Sheikh Jassim withdraws from race to buy Manchester United from Glazers

The craze for the forthcoming inaugural Women's IPL is at an all-time high. With the continuous rise of the women's cricket in India, the BCCI is set to host the first-ever Women's IPL in March, 2023. Ahead of the showpiece event, the Manchester United owners, who had tried their hand to acquire an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise in 2021, confirmed their interest in the forthcoming women's tournament.

On the sidelines of the ongoing ILT20 in Dubai, where Man United&nbsp;owns the Desert Vipers team, a representative for the owners told Cricbuzz that the Avaram Glazer is&nbsp;looking at the WIPL.

"Having bought into the ILT20, it is natural for us to look into other cricket opportunities around the world, including Women's IPL," Phil Oliver, the CEO of Desert Vipers, told the cricket portal on Friday (January 13). As per reports, the BCCI is set&nbsp;to&nbsp;conduct the&nbsp;auction for the WIPL franchises later this month, on January 25. Meanwhile, the media rights auction will take place on January 16.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/inaugural-womens-ipl-media-rights-auction-postponed-to-january-16-with-conditions-attached-550058">Inaugural Women's IPL: Media rights auction postponed to January 16 with conditions attached</a>

Oliver, however,&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;reveal if the club has&nbsp;bought the Invitation To Tender (ITT) document, which is a prerequisite for buying a side in WIPL. "I can't reveal the details of how far we are in that process but I am happy to say that we are looking into all opportunities, including the WIPL. The India market is of interest to us. A lot of Indian cricket fans will be watching this tournament and will see what the Desert Vipers will bring to that. If anything, we want to bring an exciting brand of cricket to the Indian fans, just as to our fans all around the world," Oliver asserted. It is to be noted the ITT will be up for purchase till January 21.

It is believed that Man United were keen to buy one of the two new IPL teams, i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) -- eventually bought by Sanjiv Goenka group -- and Gujarat Titans (now owned by&nbsp;CVC Capital Group) in late 2021. Nonetheless, Oliver was quick to point out that not Man United but&nbsp;Avaram Glazer, of Lancer Capital, had bid for an IPL team.&nbsp;

Hence, Oliver clarified, "Just to draw the initial distinction, it was not Manchester United which was looking at an IPL team. The distinction is important. Avaram Glazer of Lancer Capital bid for an IPL team when it expanded last year. That company has bought a franchise in ILT20, Desert Viper, and Manchester United is not represented here."

The craze for the forthcoming inaugural Women's IPL is at an all-time high. With the continuous rise of the women's cricket in India, the BCCI is set to host the first-ever Women's IPL in March, 2023.

The craze for the forthcoming inaugural Women's IPL is at an all-time high. With the continuous rise of the women's cricket in India, the BCCI is set to host the first-ever Women's IPL in March, 2023. Ahead of the showpiece event, the Manchester United owners, who had tried their hand to acquire an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise in 2021, confirmed their interest in the forthcoming women's tournament. On the sidelines of the ongoing ILT20 in Dubai, where Man United owns the Desert Vipers team, a representative for the owners told Cricbuzz that the Avaram Glazer is looking at the WIPL. "Having bought into the ILT20, it is natural for us to look into other cricket opportunities around the world, including Women's IPL," Phil Oliver, the CEO of Desert Vipers, told the cricket portal on Friday (January 13). As per reports, the BCCI is set to conduct the auction for the WIPL franchises later this month, on January 25. Meanwhile, the media rights auction will take place on January 16. Also read: Inaugural Women's IPL: Media rights auction postponed to January 16 with conditions attached Oliver, however, didn't reveal if the club has bought the Invitation To Tender (ITT) document, which is a prerequisite for buying a side in WIPL. "I can't reveal the details of how far we are in that process but I am happy to say that we are looking into all opportunities, including the WIPL. The India market is of interest to us. A lot of Indian cricket fans will be watching this tournament and will see what the Desert Vipers will bring to that. If anything, we want to bring an exciting brand of cricket to the Indian fans, just as to our fans all around the world," Oliver asserted. It is to be noted the ITT will be up for purchase till January 21. It is believed that Man United were keen to buy one of the two new IPL teams, i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) -- eventually bought by Sanjiv Goenka group -- and Gujarat Titans (now owned by CVC Capital Group) in late 2021. Nonetheless, Oliver was quick to point out that not Man United but Avaram Glazer, of Lancer Capital, had bid for an IPL team. Hence, Oliver clarified, "Just to draw the initial distinction, it was not Manchester United which was looking at an IPL team. The distinction is important. Avaram Glazer of Lancer Capital bid for an IPL team when it expanded last year. That company has bought a franchise in ILT20, Desert Viper, and Manchester United is not represented here."

Manchester United to own a franchise in WIPL? Owners confirm interest

One of the most popular clubs in the world, Manchester United, has been put up for sale by their current owners — The Glazer family, leaving several potential buyers around the globe on red alert. United are one of the most successful clubs in the history of English and European football with a global fan base only bettered by a few.

Technology giants Apple are reportedly interested in purchasing the Premier League club and are already planning a staggering £ 5.8 billion ($7 billion) takeover. Apple is the largest technology firm in the world with an annual turnover of around $378 billion in 2021.

As per a report in Daily Star, Apple CEO Tim Cook is keen to explore a deal to purchase United from the Glazers, who have owned the club since 2005. Cook is likely to soon hold talks with the banks appointed by the Glazers to oversee the sale of the club.

The reports of Apple CEO Cook joining the long list of potential bidders for United will be music to the ears of United fans, who have long craved owners with financial might, who will be ready to pump in money into the club, which is in desperate need of a complete overhaul.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/japan-team-cleans-up-dressing-room-after-historic-win-against-germany-in-fifa-world-cup-wins-hearts-537118">Japan team cleans up dressing room after historic win against Germany in FIFA World Cup, wins hearts</a>

As per the report, Apple will be willing to spend big if the takeover is successful as Cook plans to build a new state-of-art stadium for the club, which can be called the best in the world. Apple, however, will face a massive challenge in transforming United and bringing them back to the top of the top.

Apple has no prior experience running a sports team or a football club and making things work at a club of the stature of United will definitely pose a challenge to the people who will be in charge. The Glazers have reportedly demanded a fee of more than £8 billion to sell the club.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/switzerlands-breel-embolo-refuses-to-celebrate-after-scoring-winner-against-cameroon-in-fifa-wc-heres-why-537135">Switzerland's Breel Embolo refuses to celebrate after scoring winner against Cameroon in FIFA WC; Here's why</a>

However, they are likely to lower thier demand considering the market conditions. Apple CEO Cook, who has a net worth of a staggering £2 trillion, is interested in placing a £ 5.8 billion bid to test the waters. If the deal goes through, being owned by Apple will make United the richest club in the world, dwarfing the values of owners of the likes of Manchester City, PSG, and Newcastle United among others.

However, Apple are not the only potential bidder in the fray with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United legend David Beckham and&nbsp;Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund among interested parties.

One of the most popular clubs in the world, Manchester United, has been put up for sale by their current owners — The Glazer family, leaving several potential buyers around the globe on red alert.

One of the most popular clubs in the world, Manchester United, has been put up for sale by their current owners — The Glazer family, leaving several potential buyers around the globe on red alert. United are one of the most successful clubs in the history of English and European football with a global fan base only bettered by a few. Technology giants Apple are reportedly interested in purchasing the Premier League club and are already planning a staggering £ 5.8 billion ($7 billion) takeover. Apple is the largest technology firm in the world with an annual turnover of around $378 billion in 2021. As per a report in Daily Star, Apple CEO Tim Cook is keen to explore a deal to purchase United from the Glazers, who have owned the club since 2005. Cook is likely to soon hold talks with the banks appointed by the Glazers to oversee the sale of the club. The reports of Apple CEO Cook joining the long list of potential bidders for United will be music to the ears of United fans, who have long craved owners with financial might, who will be ready to pump in money into the club, which is in desperate need of a complete overhaul. Also Read: Japan team cleans up dressing room after historic win against Germany in FIFA World Cup, wins hearts As per the report, Apple will be willing to spend big if the takeover is successful as Cook plans to build a new state-of-art stadium for the club, which can be called the best in the world. Apple, however, will face a massive challenge in transforming United and bringing them back to the top of the top. Apple has no prior experience running a sports team or a football club and making things work at a club of the stature of United will definitely pose a challenge to the people who will be in charge. The Glazers have reportedly demanded a fee of more than £8 billion to sell the club. Also Read: Switzerland's Breel Embolo refuses to celebrate after scoring winner against Cameroon in FIFA WC; Here's why However, they are likely to lower thier demand considering the market conditions. Apple CEO Cook, who has a net worth of a staggering £2 trillion, is interested in placing a £ 5.8 billion bid to test the waters. If the deal goes through, being owned by Apple will make United the richest club in the world, dwarfing the values of owners of the likes of Manchester City, PSG, and Newcastle United among others. However, Apple are not the only potential bidder in the fray with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United legend David Beckham and Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund among interested parties.

Apple planning to make Manchester United richest club in the world in a staggering $7 billion takeover

On Wednesday (November 23), Manchester United's American owners, the Glazers family, confirmed that they are aiming to explore the possible sale of the Old Trafford club; putting an end to their 17-year-long reign in the process. Now, some reports have suggested that David Beckham -- former England captain and Man United midfielder -- is open for holding talks with potential bidders with his former club up for grabs.&nbsp;

As per the Financial Times, the 47-year-old Beckham is up for entering discussions with those who are serious about a possible takeover. In return, he will offer financial and public support. In addition, it states that as Beckham would not be able to afford to buy the club himself, he is willing to become a part of an “investment consortium”. Beckham - co-owner of MLS club Inter Miami CF - has been approached by several interested parties in the past as well, however, nothing materialised out of those discussions.&nbsp;It is to be noted that the Glazers family reportedly wish to hold out for around a whopping £5billion, after their £790million purchase back in 2005.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-uniteds-american-owners-consider-to-sell-club-536632">Manchester United's American owners, the Glazer family, plans to sell club</a>

Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer, executive co-chairmen and directors of the United, said in a statement, "As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the board has authorized a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives. It added,&nbsp;"We will evaluate all options to ensure that we best serve our fans and that Manchester&nbsp;United&nbsp;maximizes the significant growth opportunities available to the club today and in the future."

The Man United owners have been facing the heat ever since the club has been going through a barren run. They have gone five years without clinging a trophy with their last silverware coming in 2017 when they won the&nbsp;Europa League and League Cup. Last year, they finished sixth in EPL 2021/22 and failed to qualify for the Champions League. In the ongoing EPL season, the Erik Ten Hag-led United are currently at the fifth position. However, much has been said and written about the functioning of the club ever since the Dutchman took over.

Erik's strained relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo became a huge talking point in the last few months before Ronaldo's recent explosive interview with Piers Morgan led to his eventual ouster from the Old Trafford club on Tuesday (November 22). He had even claimed that his equation with the owners wasn't at its best. Amid all the drama, Beckham's inclusion might work wonders given his history with the club and his overall stature.

On Wednesday (November 23), Manchester United's American owners, the Glazers family, confirmed that they are aiming to explore the possible sale of the Old Trafford club; putting an end to their 17-year-long reign in the process.

On Wednesday (November 23), Manchester United's American owners, the Glazers family, confirmed that they are aiming to explore the possible sale of the Old Trafford club; putting an end to their 17-year-long reign in the process. Now, some reports have suggested that David Beckham -- former England captain and Man United midfielder -- is open for holding talks with potential bidders with his former club up for grabs. As per the Financial Times, the 47-year-old Beckham is up for entering discussions with those who are serious about a possible takeover. In return, he will offer financial and public support. In addition, it states that as Beckham would not be able to afford to buy the club himself, he is willing to become a part of an “investment consortium”. Beckham - co-owner of MLS club Inter Miami CF - has been approached by several interested parties in the past as well, however, nothing materialised out of those discussions. It is to be noted that the Glazers family reportedly wish to hold out for around a whopping £5billion, after their £790million purchase back in 2005. Also read: Manchester United's American owners, the Glazer family, plans to sell club Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer, executive co-chairmen and directors of the United, said in a statement, "As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the board has authorized a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives. It added, "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." The Man United owners have been facing the heat ever since the club has been going through a barren run. They have gone five years without clinging a trophy with their last silverware coming in 2017 when they won the Europa League and League Cup. Last year, they finished sixth in EPL 2021/22 and failed to qualify for the Champions League. In the ongoing EPL season, the Erik Ten Hag-led United are currently at the fifth position. However, much has been said and written about the functioning of the club ever since the Dutchman took over. Erik's strained relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo became a huge talking point in the last few months before Ronaldo's recent explosive interview with Piers Morgan led to his eventual ouster from the Old Trafford club on Tuesday (November 22). He had even claimed that his equation with the owners wasn't at its best. Amid all the drama, Beckham's inclusion might work wonders given his history with the club and his overall stature.

David Beckham up for talks with potential bidders as Man United owners planning to sell club - Report

Manchester&nbsp;United&nbsp;said on Tuesday it was commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives, including a new investment or a potential sale, 17 years after the American Glazer family bought the English Premier League soccer club. The Glazer family is working with financial advisers on the process, which could lead to a partial sale of the Old Trafford club or investments including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, the club said in a statement.

Manchester&nbsp;United&nbsp;fans have been clamouring for a change of ownership and the Glazers have been the target of intense criticism as the team have gone five years without winning a trophy. The last silverware they won was the Europa League and League Cup back in 2017. "As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the board has authorized a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives," Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer, executive co-chairmen and directors of&nbsp;United, said in the statement. "We will evaluate all options to ensure that we best serve our fans and that Manchester&nbsp;United&nbsp;maximizes the significant growth opportunities available to the club today and in the future," the statement said.

In August, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe had expressed interest in buying&nbsp;United, Reuters reported. At the time, Elon Musk had also joked about planning to buy the club. Wealthy Asian tycoons, especially those from China, have been buying European teams in recent years including Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers and Italy's Inter Milan. However, football clubs have since been deemed unfavorable assets by China and any major overseas purchase would seem unlikely at the moment, said Mark Dreyer, Beijing-based author of "Sporting Superpower", a book about China's sports ambitions.

"It's almost impossible to see how any Chinese-related entity could justify a purchase of this magnitude in the current climate," he said. "... with China only just now facing up to the realities of COVID-19, which makes the entire economic environment that much more uncertain, no state body would approve this kind of deal." The owners are under pressure with&nbsp;United&nbsp;sitting fifth in the Premier League halfway through the season, which has been suspended because of the current Qatar World Cup.

Manchester&nbsp;United&nbsp;shares jumped as much as 20% after Sky News first reported on the sale process, giving the club a market capitalisation of $2.6 billion. The company was worth $2.5 billion at the close of U.S. trading on Tuesday. At its peak as a public company, it had a market capitalisation of $4.3 billion in 2018.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-to-leave-manchester-united-with-immediate-effect-536561">Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Manchester United with immediate effect</a>

RONALDO LEAVES

Also on Tuesday, the club said that star striker Cristiano Ronaldo will leave with immediate effect, marking a bitter end to the Portugal captain's second spell at Old Trafford after he said he felt betrayed by the club. The Glazers bought the club for 790 million pounds ($939.07 million) in 2005 in a highly leveraged deal which has been criticised for loading debt onto the club. United&nbsp;has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2012, when the Glazers sold 10% of their holding via the listing and have sold more shares since.

The Raine Group is acting as financial adviser and Latham &amp; Watkins LLP is the legal adviser to Manchester&nbsp;United. Rothschild and Co. is acting as financial adviser to the Glazer family shareholders.&nbsp;Among the fan protests against the Glazers was one in May 2021 that forced the postponement of a home match against Liverpool, one of the club's biggest rivals. It was the first Premier League match to be postponed because of a protest.

United&nbsp;and Liverpool were among a group of big clubs that said they wanted to establish a European Super League in April 2021 but then withdrew, partly because of objections from many fans in England. Liverpool are also "exploring a sale" according to club chairman Tom Werner. In May 2022, Chelsea Football Club was sold to a consortium led by an investment group fronted by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital for $3.2 billion (2.5 billion pounds).

United&nbsp;finished sixth last season in their worst Premier League campaign in terms of points earned, failing to qualify for the lucrative European Champions League competition. They won the last of their record 20 top-flight league titles in 2013, the year the great Alex Ferguson stepped down as manager after more than 26 years in charge. The club have hired Dutch manager Erik ten Hag from Ajax Amsterdam in a bid to turn around their fortunes.

Manchester United said on Tuesday it was commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives, including a new investment or a potential sale, 17 years after the American Glazer family bought the English Premier League soccer club.

Manchester United said on Tuesday it was commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives, including a new investment or a potential sale, 17 years after the American Glazer family bought the English Premier League soccer club. The Glazer family is working with financial advisers on the process, which could lead to a partial sale of the Old Trafford club or investments including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, the club said in a statement. Manchester United fans have been clamouring for a change of ownership and the Glazers have been the target of intense criticism as the team have gone five years without winning a trophy. The last silverware they won was the Europa League and League Cup back in 2017. "As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the board has authorized a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives," Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer, executive co-chairmen and directors of United, said in the statement. "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," the statement said. In August, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe had expressed interest in buying United, Reuters reported. At the time, Elon Musk had also joked about planning to buy the club. Wealthy Asian tycoons, especially those from China, have been buying European teams in recent years including Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers and Italy's Inter Milan. However, football clubs have since been deemed unfavorable assets by China and any major overseas purchase would seem unlikely at the moment, said Mark Dreyer, Beijing-based author of "Sporting Superpower", a book about China's sports ambitions. "It's almost impossible to see how any Chinese-related entity could justify a purchase of this magnitude in the current climate," he said. "... with China only just now facing up to the realities of COVID-19, which makes the entire economic environment that much more uncertain, no state body would approve this kind of deal." The owners are under pressure with United sitting fifth in the Premier League halfway through the season, which has been suspended because of the current Qatar World Cup. Manchester United shares jumped as much as 20% after Sky News first reported on the sale process, giving the club a market capitalisation of $2.6 billion. The company was worth $2.5 billion at the close of U.S. trading on Tuesday. At its peak as a public company, it had a market capitalisation of $4.3 billion in 2018. Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Manchester United with immediate effect RONALDO LEAVES Also on Tuesday, the club said that star striker Cristiano Ronaldo will leave with immediate effect, marking a bitter end to the Portugal captain's second spell at Old Trafford after he said he felt betrayed by the club. The Glazers bought the club for 790 million pounds ($939.07 million) in 2005 in a highly leveraged deal which has been criticised for loading debt onto the club. United has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2012, when the Glazers sold 10% of their holding via the listing and have sold more shares since. The Raine Group is acting as financial adviser and Latham & Watkins LLP is the legal adviser to Manchester United. Rothschild and Co. is acting as financial adviser to the Glazer family shareholders. Among the fan protests against the Glazers was one in May 2021 that forced the postponement of a home match against Liverpool, one of the club's biggest rivals. It was the first Premier League match to be postponed because of a protest. United and Liverpool were among a group of big clubs that said they wanted to establish a European Super League in April 2021 but then withdrew, partly because of objections from many fans in England. Liverpool are also "exploring a sale" according to club chairman Tom Werner. In May 2022, Chelsea Football Club was sold to a consortium led by an investment group fronted by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital for $3.2 billion (2.5 billion pounds). United finished sixth last season in their worst Premier League campaign in terms of points earned, failing to qualify for the lucrative European Champions League competition. They won the last of their record 20 top-flight league titles in 2013, the year the great Alex Ferguson stepped down as manager after more than 26 years in charge. The club have hired Dutch manager Erik ten Hag from Ajax Amsterdam in a bid to turn around their fortunes.

Manchester United's American owners, the Glazer family, plans to sell club

Manchester United have had a disastrous start to the ongoing Premier League season under new manager Erik Ten Hag, who arrived at the club from Dutch side Ajax earlier this summer. Ten Hag has signed up for arguably the biggest challenge of his managerial career so far, but finds himself in troubled waters just a couple of games into his first season at the club.

The Dutch manager had massive optimism surrounding his arrival after United showed glimpses of brilliant football Ten Hag is known for, during their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. But the buoyancy was a short-lived one as back-to-back losses against Brighton and Brentford in the first two games of the season pushed United to the bottom of the table.

United were shambolic in defence and far from clinical in attack as the lack of quality in the squad was crystal clear on the pitch during their defeats against Brighton and Brentford. While they were expected to kick off the new season with new vigour after a dismal campaign last season, Ten Hag's men looked completely out of sorts in the two defeats which have served as an eye-opener.

But the problems at United are clear and obvious. They are far beyond Ten Hag's reach as the club's owners — The Glazer family — are to be blamed for bringing down the English football giants. Deservingly, the Glazers find themselves at the receiving end of massive criticism from fans, experts and former players alike after United's terrible start.

In their 17 years of ownership of United, the Glazers have made some awful footballing decisions; they have failed to install a proper hierarchy at the club to run the footballing side of their ‘commercial’ venture, and instead of pumping in money to strengthen the squad over the years, have put the club under mounting debt while also enjoying annual dividends. 
&nbsp;

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/of-100-news-i-made-cristiano-ronaldo-breaks-silence-over-his-situation-at-man-united-to-expose-lies-507648">Cristiano Ronaldo breaks silence over his situation at Man United, to expose 'lies'</a>

The Glazers have been accused of leaving Manchester United&nbsp;'to rot' while they continue to milk money out of the most successful club in the history of English football. So much so, that the fans, former players and experts have had enough and have called out the owners for 'destroying' the club in recent days.

Who are the Glazers? How did they buy Manchester United?

Avram, Joel, Bryan, Kevin, Edward and Darcie - the six Glazer&nbsp;siblings currently own Manchester United, one of the most popular clubs in the world with a staggering fan following across the globe. Their father Malcolm Glazer, an American business tycoon, had entered the sports business for the first time when he bought the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in America's National Football League (NFL).

After running the Buccaneers, Glazer&nbsp;siblings Joel, Edward and Bryan set their sights on buying Manchester United. It was in 2003, that Malcolm Glazer made his first move and bought 2.9% shares of United for around $4.7 million. He kept increasing his stake and reached the coveted 30% mark which was enough to launch a full takeover bid.

The Glazers increased their stake to 58.7% after United's former manager Sir Alex Ferguson had a fall out with John Magnier and J. P. McManus, who collectively owned 28.7% shares of the club. Glazers sensed an opportunity and made the most of it as they bought the entire 28.7% stake from the duo to increase their stake while retaining Ferguson as the manager.

Their ownership soon rose to 75% before Glazers took full control of the club in 2005 for a sum of around £790 million. However, there was a catch, the Glazers didn't spend their own money to buy Manchester United and instead opted to finance the move through loans. The Glazers only spent £270m on their own financed the rest by placing the club into debt.

It was for the first time since 1931, that United, a debt-free club, was put into debt. It was the beginning of what has panned out to be a disastrous stint for the Glazers as the owners of United with success eluding the club for a number of years and fans growing impatient with every passing season as they witness their beloved football club being brought down to the ground.

One of the most profitable football clubs in the world, United had to pay interest payments of around £62 million every year after the Glazers financed their purchase of the club with a loan and put it on the United brand. Instead of hoping for new investment into the club, United found itself spending millions to pay off the debt.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-buying-any-sports-team-elon-musk-clarifies-after-claiming-he-is-going-to-buy-manchester-united-507666">'Not buying any sports team' - Elon Musk clarifies after claiming he is going to buy Manchester United</a>

Why the&nbsp;Glazers have been called 'leeches' by Manchester United fans?

Manchester United was a debt-free club till the Glazers took over in 2005 by taking a loan of around a staggering £525 million and put it on the club to pay it off. The Manchester United fans had sensed what was to come in the future and protests outside Old Trafford, the club's home ground had begun even before the Glazers' takeover was complete.

However, the protests were not as fierce as they have been in the last few years as the fans still hoped the American owners would take the club in the right direction. However, that has clearly not been the case as United, one of the top clubs in the world, has been far from challenging for major titles since the departure of Alex Ferguson.

In 2010, United's debt rose to a staggering £716.5 million which forced the club to issue bonds of around £500 million to pay it off. As per reports, United's current debt sits at around £627 million. The club has paid around £855m alone in interests which could have easily been invested into infrastructure, stadium and in improving the quality of the squad that is currently crying for reinforcements.

If the debt was not enough, from 2016 the Glazers started taking out more money as dividends for the shares they own. They have&nbsp;taken out around £154 million in dividends in the last six years and continue to fill their pockets with millions of pounds annually despite the club needing a complete rebuild from top to bottom.

All this, while not investing properly in the squad and not having a proper structure at the club to run the footballing side of it, has left the fans exhausted but louder than ever. The Glazers have been termed&nbsp;'leeches' with&nbsp;calls for the American&nbsp;owners&nbsp;to sell the club growing&nbsp;louder in the last few years than ever before due to their sheer inability to properly run one of the biggest football clubs in the world.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-strikers-manchester-united-can-sign-this-window-if-cristiano-ronaldo-leaves-504372">Five strikers Manchester United can sign this window if Cristiano Ronaldo leaves</a>

Have Glazers not spent money on transfers?

The Glazers had their faces saved by the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson in their initial years after buying United as the former manager delivered success on the pitch to paper over the cracks. However, United have not managed to win a single Premier League title ever since his departure in 2013 when the club won their last league title.

From 2005 to 2013, Manchester United had a net spend of just £164m which averages just over £20 million per season over eight years. At the same time, the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and other top European clubs were spending big money in the transfer market to get the players they wanted to achieve success.

With Ferguson in charge, United's transfer howlers were majorly covered over as the legendary manager still was able to help the club win titles one after another. However, the Glazers were left exposed once Ferguson left the club as United's inability to track the best talents and bring them to Old Trafford ended up costing them on the pitch.

United have spent over £1 billion in transfers since Ferguson's departure but they have little to show for the money spent as a number of signings over the years have flopped and flopped massively at the club. The likes of&nbsp;Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku among others have all flopped at Old Trafford, exposing United's below-par recruitment and transfer strategy.

While many might argue the Glazers still have paid money, the over&nbsp; £1 billion spent on transfers since 2013 is the money generated by the club. The Glazers have not put in any investment into the club but have rather taken money out in dividends while the debt remains over&nbsp;£600 million even 17 years after the takeover.

As per Sky Sports, the Glazers' takeover of United has ended up costing the club an unbelievable&nbsp;£1.5-2 million pounds, the majority of which could have been utilised in the proper functioning of the club and ensuring it remains as successful as it was under Ferguson, who won a stunning 13 Premier League and 2 Champions League titles during his glorious stint and is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-negative-presence-at-manchester-united-club-open-to-letting-him-leave-report-507448">Cristiano Ronaldo 'negative presence' at Manchester United, club open to letting him leave - Report</a>

Elon Musk's bluff

Amid their continuous efforts to force The Glazers to sell their beloved club for its own good, Manchester United fans saw a ray of hope when Tesla COO Elon Musk put out a tweet on Wednesday (August 17) saying he was buying the English club. Twitter was soon flooded with reactions as United fans saw light at the end of the tunnel.

However, their joy was short-lived as it was yet another bluff from Musk, who is known for his pointless tweets. The world's richest person was quick to clarify in another tweet&nbsp;that it was just a joke and that he is not planning on buying a sports team. However, Musk insisted if he were&nbsp;to buy a sports team it will be United, as the club was his favourite in childhood.

"No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams," Musk said in his tweet replying to a user, who asked him if he was serious about buying the English club.&nbsp;

"Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U. They were my fav team as a kid," he said in another.

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No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1559760618537848832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U. They were my fav team as a kid.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1559769337912856576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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There is no question&nbsp;that Musk has all the resources that he would need to buy Manchester United, but the club's problems run deeper and it is in dire need of an owner, who would be willing to be invested in sorting out the underlying issues at Old Trafford. And as of now, Musk isn't United's saviour as he is not interested in buying the Premier League giants.

Musk, who had recently pulled out of a deal to buy social media giant&nbsp;Twitter after being denied information he sought, would be in for an even bigger challenge at United if he opts to buy the sleeping giants of English football, who might be up for sale sooner rather than later as the Glazers, who value the club at&nbsp;£4 billion might give in one day amid&nbsp;the mounting pressure from all corners.

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville had perfectly put in on Sky Sports last week when he called out the Glazers urging them to sell the club while slamming them for their awful ownership.

“There is a family in America that is letting its employees take the blame. They need to get on a plane to Manchester and explain what the plan is. We never will have the Glazers here," said Neville, who played a staggering 602 matches for United.

“The only money that has been spent on players has been generated by the club. The Glazers have borrowed and used the revenue the club generates through its amazing fanbase.”

“My point is there has been a toxic culture at this club for the last 10 years since Alex Ferguson and (CEO) David Gill left. It’s a mess. And it cannot continue to go on. The embedded failure over a ten-year period has to come back to the owner. I blamed (CEO Ed) Woodward for a long time but the Glazers left him in situ," he added.

Manchester United have had a disastrous start to the ongoing Premier League season under new manager Erik Ten Hag, who arrived at the club from Dutch side Ajax earlier this summer.

Manchester United have had a disastrous start to the ongoing Premier League season under new manager Erik Ten Hag, who arrived at the club from Dutch side Ajax earlier this summer. Ten Hag has signed up for arguably the biggest challenge of his managerial career so far, but finds himself in troubled waters just a couple of games into his first season at the club. The Dutch manager had massive optimism surrounding his arrival after United showed glimpses of brilliant football Ten Hag is known for, during their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia. But the buoyancy was a short-lived one as back-to-back losses against Brighton and Brentford in the first two games of the season pushed United to the bottom of the table. United were shambolic in defence and far from clinical in attack as the lack of quality in the squad was crystal clear on the pitch during their defeats against Brighton and Brentford. While they were expected to kick off the new season with new vigour after a dismal campaign last season, Ten Hag's men looked completely out of sorts in the two defeats which have served as an eye-opener. But the problems at United are clear and obvious. They are far beyond Ten Hag's reach as the club's owners — The Glazer family — are to be blamed for bringing down the English football giants. Deservingly, the Glazers find themselves at the receiving end of massive criticism from fans, experts and former players alike after United's terrible start. In their 17 years of ownership of United, the Glazers have made some awful footballing decisions; they have failed to install a proper hierarchy at the club to run the footballing side of their ‘commercial’ venture, and instead of pumping in money to strengthen the squad over the years, have put the club under mounting debt while also enjoying annual dividends. Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo breaks silence over his situation at Man United, to expose 'lies' The Glazers have been accused of leaving Manchester United 'to rot' while they continue to milk money out of the most successful club in the history of English football. So much so, that the fans, former players and experts have had enough and have called out the owners for 'destroying' the club in recent days. Who are the Glazers? How did they buy Manchester United? Avram, Joel, Bryan, Kevin, Edward and Darcie - the six Glazer siblings currently own Manchester United, one of the most popular clubs in the world with a staggering fan following across the globe. Their father Malcolm Glazer, an American business tycoon, had entered the sports business for the first time when he bought the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in America's National Football League (NFL). After running the Buccaneers, Glazer siblings Joel, Edward and Bryan set their sights on buying Manchester United. It was in 2003, that Malcolm Glazer made his first move and bought 2.9% shares of United for around $4.7 million. He kept increasing his stake and reached the coveted 30% mark which was enough to launch a full takeover bid. The Glazers increased their stake to 58.7% after United's former manager Sir Alex Ferguson had a fall out with John Magnier and J. P. McManus, who collectively owned 28.7% shares of the club. Glazers sensed an opportunity and made the most of it as they bought the entire 28.7% stake from the duo to increase their stake while retaining Ferguson as the manager. Their ownership soon rose to 75% before Glazers took full control of the club in 2005 for a sum of around £790 million. However, there was a catch, the Glazers didn't spend their own money to buy Manchester United and instead opted to finance the move through loans. The Glazers only spent £270m on their own financed the rest by placing the club into debt. It was for the first time since 1931, that United, a debt-free club, was put into debt. It was the beginning of what has panned out to be a disastrous stint for the Glazers as the owners of United with success eluding the club for a number of years and fans growing impatient with every passing season as they witness their beloved football club being brought down to the ground. One of the most profitable football clubs in the world, United had to pay interest payments of around £62 million every year after the Glazers financed their purchase of the club with a loan and put it on the United brand. Instead of hoping for new investment into the club, United found itself spending millions to pay off the debt. Also Read: 'Not buying any sports team' - Elon Musk clarifies after claiming he is going to buy Manchester United Why the Glazers have been called 'leeches' by Manchester United fans? Manchester United was a debt-free club till the Glazers took over in 2005 by taking a loan of around a staggering £525 million and put it on the club to pay it off. The Manchester United fans had sensed what was to come in the future and protests outside Old Trafford, the club's home ground had begun even before the Glazers' takeover was complete. However, the protests were not as fierce as they have been in the last few years as the fans still hoped the American owners would take the club in the right direction. However, that has clearly not been the case as United, one of the top clubs in the world, has been far from challenging for major titles since the departure of Alex Ferguson. In 2010, United's debt rose to a staggering £716.5 million which forced the club to issue bonds of around £500 million to pay it off. As per reports, United's current debt sits at around £627 million. The club has paid around £855m alone in interests which could have easily been invested into infrastructure, stadium and in improving the quality of the squad that is currently crying for reinforcements. If the debt was not enough, from 2016 the Glazers started taking out more money as dividends for the shares they own. They have taken out around £154 million in dividends in the last six years and continue to fill their pockets with millions of pounds annually despite the club needing a complete rebuild from top to bottom. All this, while not investing properly in the squad and not having a proper structure at the club to run the footballing side of it, has left the fans exhausted but louder than ever. The Glazers have been termed 'leeches' with calls for the American owners to sell the club growing louder in the last few years than ever before due to their sheer inability to properly run one of the biggest football clubs in the world. Also Read: Five strikers Manchester United can sign this window if Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Have Glazers not spent money on transfers? The Glazers had their faces saved by the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson in their initial years after buying United as the former manager delivered success on the pitch to paper over the cracks. However, United have not managed to win a single Premier League title ever since his departure in 2013 when the club won their last league title. From 2005 to 2013, Manchester United had a net spend of just £164m which averages just over £20 million per season over eight years. At the same time, the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and other top European clubs were spending big money in the transfer market to get the players they wanted to achieve success. With Ferguson in charge, United's transfer howlers were majorly covered over as the legendary manager still was able to help the club win titles one after another. However, the Glazers were left exposed once Ferguson left the club as United's inability to track the best talents and bring them to Old Trafford ended up costing them on the pitch. United have spent over £1 billion in transfers since Ferguson's departure but they have little to show for the money spent as a number of signings over the years have flopped and flopped massively at the club. The likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku among others have all flopped at Old Trafford, exposing United's below-par recruitment and transfer strategy. While many might argue the Glazers still have paid money, the over £1 billion spent on transfers since 2013 is the money generated by the club. The Glazers have not put in any investment into the club but have rather taken money out in dividends while the debt remains over £600 million even 17 years after the takeover. As per Sky Sports, the Glazers' takeover of United has ended up costing the club an unbelievable £1.5-2 million pounds, the majority of which could have been utilised in the proper functioning of the club and ensuring it remains as successful as it was under Ferguson, who won a stunning 13 Premier League and 2 Champions League titles during his glorious stint and is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time. Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo 'negative presence' at Manchester United, club open to letting him leave - Report Elon Musk's bluff Amid their continuous efforts to force The Glazers to sell their beloved club for its own good, Manchester United fans saw a ray of hope when Tesla COO Elon Musk put out a tweet on Wednesday (August 17) saying he was buying the English club. Twitter was soon flooded with reactions as United fans saw light at the end of the tunnel. However, their joy was short-lived as it was yet another bluff from Musk, who is known for his pointless tweets. The world's richest person was quick to clarify in another tweet that it was just a joke and that he is not planning on buying a sports team. However, Musk insisted if he were to buy a sports team it will be United, as the club was his favourite in childhood. "No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams," Musk said in his tweet replying to a user, who asked him if he was serious about buying the English club. "Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U. They were my fav team as a kid," he said in another. No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022 × Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U. They were my fav team as a kid. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022 × There is no question that Musk has all the resources that he would need to buy Manchester United, but the club's problems run deeper and it is in dire need of an owner, who would be willing to be invested in sorting out the underlying issues at Old Trafford. And as of now, Musk isn't United's saviour as he is not interested in buying the Premier League giants. Musk, who had recently pulled out of a deal to buy social media giant Twitter after being denied information he sought, would be in for an even bigger challenge at United if he opts to buy the sleeping giants of English football, who might be up for sale sooner rather than later as the Glazers, who value the club at £4 billion might give in one day amid the mounting pressure from all corners. Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville had perfectly put in on Sky Sports last week when he called out the Glazers urging them to sell the club while slamming them for their awful ownership. “There is a family in America that is letting its employees take the blame. They need to get on a plane to Manchester and explain what the plan is. We never will have the Glazers here," said Neville, who played a staggering 602 matches for United. “The only money that has been spent on players has been generated by the club. The Glazers have borrowed and used the revenue the club generates through its amazing fanbase.” “My point is there has been a toxic culture at this club for the last 10 years since Alex Ferguson and (CEO) David Gill left. It’s a mess. And it cannot continue to go on. The embedded failure over a ten-year period has to come back to the owner. I blamed (CEO Ed) Woodward for a long time but the Glazers left him in situ," he added.

Elon Musk not the saviour, but Manchester United plagued by clear and obvious issues

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