Bloomberg reported that internal discussions have been under way for months among US-based members of the family, with some attempting to convince others to join them in a potential exit.
The report makes clear that no unified family decision has been reached, with different members holding different views on the optimal path forward. Executive co-chairman Joel Glazer is understood to want to remain involved.
The Glazer family collectively retains approximately 51 per cent of Manchester United shares following the sale of a roughly 29 per cent stake to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS Group in February 2024. That deal gave Ratcliffe control of footballing operations while leaving the Glazers as majority shareholders.
The family previously chose the Ratcliffe deal over a full sale to a Qatari investor consortium that had tabled a bid of more than £5bn for the entire club. Bloomberg's reporting suggests that same decision has continued to divide the family, with some members who backed the partial sale now more willing to consider a full exit.
Any comprehensive sale would likely attract competing interest from Middle Eastern and American consortiums. The current NYSE market capitalisation of approximately £2.8bn is considered a floor — not a ceiling — for any actual takeover valuation, given the premium that controlling ownership of a global sporting brand commands.
The Glazer family took over United in 2005 through a leveraged buyout that saddled the debt-free club with significant borrowings. United's latest financial accounts show outstanding debt of approximately £1.3bn. The looming redevelopment of Old Trafford — a project expected to cost several billion pounds — adds further pressure to the ownership picture.
Manchester United declined to comment. The Glazer family did not respond to Bloomberg's request before publication.