Disgruntled Manchester United fans hoping for a conclusion to the club’s ongoing sale saga may have to wait a little bit longer for more concrete news.
ESPN reported that the Glazer family is considering delaying a decision on whether to sell the club until the end of the season. The news is just the latest twist in the convoluted process by which the storied English soccer club is potentially changing hands.
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe was once seen as a near-lock to take over with an offer of more than $6 billion, but Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani continues to hang around in the bidding process.
The Glazers initially asked for $7 billion, but even $6 billion would make the sale the largest in history for a sports franchise.
Aside from a high price tag, it’s unclear exactly what the Glazers want from a sale. Ratcliffe appeared to be open to letting the family retain a minority ownership stake, while Sheikh Jassim offered to buy 100% of the club.
Currently fourth in the Premier League, Manchester United will play its final league game on Sunday and the FA Cup final against Manchester City on June 3. That means it could be several weeks until a preferred bidder is chosen — if the Glazers even follow through with their intentions to sell the club.
For now, Manchester United will focus on finishing the season as high as third or as low as fifth. If it’s the latter, the Red Devils would be out of automatic Champions League qualification, potentially costing the club millions.