Bloomberg reported this week that members of the Glazer family are debating whether to sell part or all of their stake in Manchester United. The discussions are described as internal and preliminary. No formal process has started. Manchester United declined to comment.
The Glazers still own 51% of the club.
For most United fans, this news landed somewhere between cautious hope and deep skepticism. Because they have been here before.
The Glazers have owned Manchester United since 2005. In that time, they have given almost no meaningful public communication about their ownership, their intentions, or their vision for the club. Joel and Avram Glazer have given a handful of interviews across two decades. Their most direct message to supporters was a video during the Super League fallout in 2021 that was widely seen as too little, too late.
The result is a fanbase that has never fully trusted what the club says publicly. Because regardless of who is speaking, the people ultimately in control have never been willing to explain themselves.
That is the backdrop against which every INEOS statement, every Carrick press conference, every positive story this season has played out. The good work is real. The distrust runs deeper.
Which is why how United communicates this potential sale matters as much as the sale itself.
Done well, a Glazer exit is the kind of reset that actually changes the conversation. A new owner willing to invest in Old Trafford, engage with supporters directly, and align the messaging with the reality of what is happening would give United’s communications operation something it has not had in years: a foundation to build on.
Done badly, it becomes another prolonged saga. The Glazers’ stake is divided among six family members. INEOS could look to increase their holding. Middle Eastern groups are reportedly watching. Without clear communication from the club, supporters will spend the summer filling in the gaps themselves. That is exactly what happened during the 2022 strategic review, and it damaged the club’s credibility even further.
Manchester United staying quiet right now is probably the right call. There is nothing confirmed to say.
But that window will close. And when it does, the club will need a clearer communications approach than the one the Glazers have modeled for 21 years.
Would a full Glazer exit change how you feel about the club’s direction?
