Glazers bid to buy Saudi Pro League giants

Whilst Manchester United continue to look down the barrel of defeat, the Glazers are starting to look further outwards at more sporting projects.

United, 17th in the Premier League currently, are co-owned by the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, although supporters have long voiced their criticism of the club’s ownership.

Away from Old Trafford, the Glazers have been long invested in alternative sporting projects including their ownership of NFL side Tampa Bay Buccaneers and cricket team Desert Vipers.

The Glazers have now made their next move, submitting a bid to buy Saudi Pro League giants Al-Ittihad, according to Al-Riyadiyah.

They are not the only bidders in the race to buy the club, however, with Prince Saad bin Abdullah and American businessman Joshua Harris forming a second consortium.

A third consortium, led Abdulrahman and Sultan, sons of Khalid bin Mahfouz, is also present in the race to buy the club.

Al-Ittihad is currently owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund although, with three parties showing interest in purchasing the side, the club’s future hangs in the balance.

Al-Riyadiyah say that the third consortium is currently leading the race for the club, due to their high bid alongside the strength of their investment portfolio and their fulfillment of all eligibility requirements.

It remains unclear what chance the Glazers have of succeeding in their pursuit of purchasing the club, and what their plans would be should they succeed in that quest.

Whilst the Glazer family continue to look away from Manchester United, the club’s future ownership hangs in the balance.

David Beckham has received backing for a possible takeover bid whilst Cristiano Ronaldo has received similar attention.

With the Glazers looking at buying another football club, is this them preparing for a future without Manchester United in it?

The answer to that question remains unclear, but it is clear to see their desire for football ownership is not dead in the water just yet.