Manchester United's majority owners, the Glazer family, have overseen the club's demise post Sir Alex Ferguson as the Red Devils amassed enormous debt
Josh Holland and Neil Docking
08:36, 06 Nov 2025
Edward Glazer (centre), whose family are the majority owners of Manchester United, was at the Europa League final when Ruben Amorim's side lost to Tottenham
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Edward Glazer (centre), whose family are the majority owners of Manchester United, was at the Europa League final when Ruben Amorim's side lost to Tottenham(Image: PA)
Edward Glazer has provided insight into how his family come to a consensus on important decisions at Manchester United.
Despite strong criticism from supporters regarding the enormous debt accumulated since their takeover in 2005, which has coincided with the club's demise on the pitch post Sir Alex Ferguson, the US-based Glazers have maintained their controlling stake. In a significant move, controversial British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe sealed a deal in 2024 to purchase a substantial 27.7% stake in the Red Devils, valued at approximately $1.6 billion (£1.25 billion).
This agreement has allowed Ratcliffe to assume control of the club's football operations, supported by key figures Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada. However, there was widespread speculation earlier this season about a possible change in ownership when Turki Al-Sheikh claimed on social media that United were in 'advanced negotiations' with a potential new investor.
In his post on X, Al-Sheikh wrote: "The best news I heard today is that Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor... I hope he's better than the previous owners."
Al-Sheikh later clarified: "My (yesterday's) post about Manchester United's potential sale meant one thing, the club is in an advanced negotiation phase with a new investor."
Manchester United directors Joel (right) and Avram Glazer
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Manchester United directors Joel (right) and Avram Glazer(Image: PA)
The mystery deepened as Al-Sheikh followed up with another statement: "Just to clarify, I'm not the investor, nor are they from my nation. I'm posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it might not necessarily happen."
United officials were reportedly surprised by Al-Sheikh's actions, stating that the reports were 'news to them', reports the Mirror. However, The Times' Charlotte Duncker shed some light on the situation, suggesting Ratcliffe might not have a choice if the Glazers decided to offload the club.
"I think for the right price, they definitely would. There is a clause within Ratcliffe's agreement when he bought the club - I think it was triggered in August this year - that meant if the right offer came in - and I think that it was over something like $33 a share - that the Glazers could sell the whole club.
"Not just their portion of it, but Sir Ratcliffe will be bought out, as well, so there is potential that the Glazers could sell the entire club but, at the minute, it just seems like a strange one with this news, this hype and this excitement that's been triggered by this one tweet."
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Rumours continue to circulate about a possible takeover at Old Trafford, although no official talks have occurred. Back in April, Edward Glazer - the youngest of the Glazer siblings - was asked about their decision-making process within the football club during a chat with students at the Kogod School of Business in Washington.
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When questioned about the reasoning behind their decision to sell around a quarter of United to Ratcliffe, he responded: "I think that... We're a family business, and it was really a decision we made collectively.
"Not every decision is six-nothing. But, ultimately, why we have been successful as a family business is that we've always kind of agreed that, if the majority of family members want to do something, we realise we are in a family business and we have to do it.
"One day it might be something that I'm in favour of. The next day, it may be something I'm not in favour. It was a family decision [the minority takeover]."