The richest football club in the world could be about to get even richer, with Manchester United set for takeover talks with Saudi Arabia’s most important Prince. According to Su sources, Mohammad bin Salman, who is worth a staggering £850bn, is looking to challenge Abu Dhabi-backed Man City by purchasing the Red Devils.
Who is Mohammad Bin Salman?
Mohammad bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia – the country’s second most important position after the King. He is the son of King Salman, but is in reality the most important and influential person in the Kingdom, given that his father suffers from Alzheimer’s.
Bin Salman obtained the position in summer 2017 after a power struggle with cousin Mohammad Bin Nayef, who was initially named Crown Prince but subsequently removed from all positions. The 33-year-old also serves as the country’s Minister of Defence.
Since taking over as Crown Prince, Bin Salman has launched a huge anti-corruption campaign, arresting around 500 people, closing 2,000 domestic accounts and targeting cash assets worth around £600bn.
He has also declared that he wants Saudi Arabia to become a country of moderate Islam, slowly introducing reforms such as allowing women to driveand introducing cinemas to the conservative state. But he has been criticised for increasing restrictions on press freedom, particularly in the wake of the disappearance of journalistJamal Khashoggi from the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish officials have suggested that Khashoggi was brutally tortured inside the building and cut to pieces by a 15-strong death squad deployed from Riyadh. Bin Salman married Princess Sarah bint Mashhoor in 2008 and has four children with her.
Is Mohammad Bin Salman taking over Manchester United?
It is not known whether Bin Salman would personally take over at Man Utd but it is believed he would back either a Saudi state bid or one from a prominent individual within the country.
The Glazers would demand around £3bn for control of the club, but the Saudis have the money and are reportedly willing to either buy a stake or take over completely. And SunSport revealed that unless the British government intervenes, the Premier League is powerless to stop the Saudis investing in Man United.
Saudi Arabia has already made investments in sport, bringing both WWE and the George Groves vs Callum Smith World Boxing Super Series Final to the country. However, the WWE have removed the November 2 Crown Jewel event from their website following the Khashoggi incident.
Does Mohammad Bin Salman have any other investments in football?
So far, Saudi Arabia’s influence in world football has been relatively marginal, with Emirati and Qatari investment taking centre stage with the purchases of Man City and PSG respectively.
Under Bin Salman, the country’s biggest play in football has been banning Qatar’s beIN SPORTS from broadcasting in the country.
BeoutQ, a firm allegedly based in Saudi Arabia, has been pirating the beIN SPORTS coverage of the Premier League.
But another Saudi Prince, Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, does own a 50 per cent stake in Sheffield United.
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