MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 04:07:02| >> :60:567:567:

Amancio Ortega 'not interested in buying Manchester United'

Amancio Ortega 'not interested in buying Man United'
© Reuters
Zara founder and Spanish billionaire Amancio Ortega - who is ranked as the 18th-richest person in the world - is reportedly not interested in buying Manchester United.

Zara founder Amancio Ortega reportedly has no interest in a Manchester United takeover despite links with the Old Trafford role.

The Glazer family - who have been in complete control of the 20-time English champions for 17 years - announced their desire to sell the club earlier this month.

The Americans' decision came in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's acrimonious exit, with the 37-year-old blasting the owners in a TalkTV interview with Piers Morgan.

Confirmation of Ronaldo's exit came just before the Glazers spoke of their decision to explore different "strategic" pathways, and numerous big names have since been linked with a bid.

A recent report claimed that 86-year-old Spanish billionaire Ortega - who is ranked as the 18th richest person in the world by Forbes - was interested in a potential takeover.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and co-owners Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer in April 2019© Reuters

Forbes estimates Ortega's net worth as a staggering $62.9bn (£52bn), while the Glazer family are thought to be looking for a fee of £8bn to sell the club.

However, Spanish outlet Cope claims to have contacted Ortega's holding company Pontegadea, which has emphatically denied the Zara founder's interest in buying Man United.

As a result, the Red Devils owners must look elsewhere for new investment into the club, 19 years after Malcolm Glazer's first stake was announced.

The Glazer family gradually increased their stake and assumed full control of Man United in the summer of 2005, having acquired 98% of the club and forced a squeeze-out of the remaining 2%.

The Americans' ownership has been met with constant criticism, though, and tensions boiled over when Man United tried to sign up for the failed European Super League project.

Manchester United fans hold an anti Super League banner outside Old Trafford as twelve of Europe's top football clubs launch a breakaway Super League© Reuters

Fans protested outside Old Trafford en masse prior to a Premier League fixture against Liverpool in May 2021, and some supporters managed to break onto the pitch.

The match was postponed as a result, and it was announced by Greater Manchester Police earlier this week that 39 people had been sentenced for their roles in the disorder.

Assault, burglary and criminal damage were all reported at the Theatre of Dreams, with one police officer requiring hospital treatment after sustaining a serious facial injury.

Britain's richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe is believed to be weighing up a bid for Man United - whom he supports - while tech giants Apple are also supposedly interested in a takeover.

Saudi Arabia's Sports Minister has also said that the country's government will support any private sector bids for Man United or Liverpool, who have also been put up for sale by Fenway Sports Group.

ID:500719:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6001:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Click here for more stories about Amancio Ortega

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United fans protest against their owners before the Manchester United v Liverpool Premier League match
Read Next:
Thirty-nine fans sentenced over anti-Glazer Old Trafford protests
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!