Manchester United’s owners have no intention of selling any stake in the club amid reported interest from Saudi Arabia, Press Association Sport understands.
A report in the Sunday Mirror claimed Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is preparing a £4billion bid for the club, who are owned by the Glazer family.
Rumours have surrounded a potential Saudi offer for the last week, pushing United’s share price to an all-time high on the New York Stock Exchange.
But it is understood that, as things stand, the Glazers are not looking to sell and United have not initiated any discussions, while it has been reported co-owner Avram Glazer has pulled out of an investment forum in Saudi Arabia next week.
United already have business interests with Saudi Arabia, with Saudi Telecom the club’s official integrated telecommunications partner.
The club, meanwhile, signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia last year to help develop football industry in the country.
Further investment would therefore be a predictable next step in some ways but the timing would be extremely difficult politically given the fallout from the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The crown prince has shown a big appetite for bringing sporting events to his country over the past couple of years, including motor sport and boxing, while earlier this week Brazil and Argentina played a football international in Riyadh.
Golf’s European Tour and WWE wrestling have faced calls to cancel planned events later this year, while tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have so far made no comment about whether they will pull out of a scheduled exhibition clash in December.
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