The Glazers would consider selling Manchester United if a deal in excess of $10 billion was made.
Despite the team’s lack of success since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, United’s controversial American owners have no plans to sell the English giants.
However, it is understood that the Glazers would consider an offer in excess of $10 billion (£9.09 billion) and would be open to negotiate a possible sale.
At that price, United would be the most valuable sports team in the world. The Dallas Cowboys are now the most valuable team in the NFL, valued at $8 billion.
The New England Patriots are estimated to be worth $6.4 billion, while the New York Yankees baseball team is estimated to be worth $6 billion.
The news comes after Britain’s richest man, Jim Ratcliffe, said that he discussed buying United with brothers Joel and Avram Glazer but was told the family did not want to sell.
Ratcliffe, who failed in his effort to purchase Chelsea earlier this year, is said to have a net worth of roughly $10.2 billion, implying that even he would be unable to reach United’s asking price.
“We can’t sit around expecting that Manchester United will become available one day,” he remarked.
The Glazers bought over United in 2005 for about £800 million, but have since been hated by the club’s fans.
Despite the club’s overall debt continuing to rise, the Glazers have continued to pay themselves huge annual dividends since 2016, despite the team’s lack of titles and major trophies in that same time.
Last season’s home game against Liverpool had to be rescheduled due to an organised protest by home fans, who broke into the stadium and invaded the pitch.
The news that the Glazers may be willing to do business will be music to United fans’ ears.
However, it is difficult to envisage someone wanting to invest more than $10 billion on a club with a present market value of less than $3 billion.
