Revealed: The Glazer's asking price for Man Utd

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 24 Jan 2023 17:18 GMT
• 3 min read

The Glazer family made Manchester United available for purchase in November, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe circling, but their asking price is astronomical according to CBS Sports Golazo's Ben Jacobs.

Man Utd remain one of the most marketable brands in sport, despite the fact that the trophies have tried up since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as manager in 2013, and the Glazers intend to make a significant profit on their sale.

The family's patriarch, Malcolm, purchased the club for £800 million - £500m of which was borrowed - in 2005, and now, nearly 18 years later, the Glazers are looking for nearly 10 times that amount.

READ: Man Utd takeover: Who is Sir Jim Ratcliffe? The Ineos billionaire bidding for the Red Devils

"What's going to be interesting is the price the Glazers get," CBS Sports Golazo reporter and FootballTransfers' collaborator Ben Jacobs told GiveMeSport. "We've seen estimations from a Forbes valuation at around £4.5 billion to an aspiration at the Glazers' end to get above £8 billion.

"Within this whole process, the Chelsea sale is being used as a yardstick. So Chelsea's actual sale price, excluding the promised investment, was £2.3 billion.

'£8 billion puts off suitors'

"The Glazers have always hoped they'll get close to three times the sale valuation of Chelsea, because they believe the Manchester United club brand is bigger.

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"But those within the industry feel like that is a highly optimistic number and that anything above £5 billion will be seriously entertained.

"The more suitors, the more competition and the more the Glazers can stick to their own valuation, the more that price might creep up towards £6 billion.

"So there's a massive sliding scale on the projected price and when you start talking about £8 billion or upwards, it puts off a variety of suitors."

Roman Abramovich sold Chelsea to Todd Boehly for a total of £4.25bn last May, but £1.75bn was part of a commitment to invest in the club's future, including redevelopment of Stamford Bridge.

Ratcliffe currently owns Ligue 1 side Nice, but is a lifelong Man Utd fan as well as being among the UK's richest individuals.