In the ever-evolving saga surrounding the ownership of Manchester United, recent speculation about David Beckham’s involvement in a potential takeover bid has been firmly put to rest. Journalist Ben Jacobs has shed light on the situation, stamping out rumours that the former United star is poised to play a part in this supposed takeover.
To recap the unfolding drama at Old Trafford, the Glazer family notably sold a 27% stake of Manchester United to INEOS magnate Sir Jim Ratcliffe at the start of 2024. This transaction, valued at approximately £1.25 billion, saw Ratcliffe take the reins of football operations. Since then, he has modestly increased his investment to around 29%, albeit facing considerable criticism for his subsequent strategic decisions, which included a stringent cost-cutting programme that led to redundancies and increased ticket prices.
In recent reports, a UAE consortium has been purportedly positioning itself for a full takeover of the club. Claims of approaches to club legends, including Beckham, for potential involvement have surfaced, alongside assertions by Saudi Arabian boxing promoter Turki Al-Sheikh that the deal is at an “advanced” stage.
However, Jacobs, speaking on the United Stand podcast, labelled Al-Sheikh’s comments as “misleading” and clarified that no official offer or negotiations with the Glazers had taken place. He explained, “While interest in purchasing Manchester United does seem prominent in the UAE, discussions have not reached a stage of engagement with the Glazers. The term ‘advanced’ was misleading in this context.”
The Glazers, according to Jacobs, remain in waiting to see if any credible offer materialises, amidst speculation that a consortium is indeed lining up various ex-United legends, including Eric Cantona, for ambassadorial roles, though not for investment.
Addressing the Beckham rumours, Jacobs maintained scepticism about his participation, citing Beckham’s previous selective endorsements only aligning with confirmed ventures, such as his past involvement with Qatar 2022. At this juncture, Jacobs sees Beckham unlikely to lend his name to any bid that’s not conclusively established.
Despite Jacobs highlighting that Ratcliffe is “not overly concerned” about an imminent loss of influence, the takeover narrative remains quietly in limbo, with open lines of communication but little confirmed movement.
Thus, as excitement around the club continues, it seems, for now, that any significant changes in the ownership structure of Manchester United remain speculative and uncertain.