Posted at 7:02 a.m., Monday, September 3, 2007
Soccer: Manchester United not for sale
Associated Press
MANCHESTER, England — The Glazer family will not sell Manchester United, despite reports of potential billion-dollar takeover bids from China and United Arab Emirates."United is not for sale," the family's spokesman said yesterday. "The Glazer family is 100 percent committed to long-term investment and ownership in the club ... demonstrated by the expenditure during the transfer window.
"The position has not changed and nor will it."
A Chinese consortium has reportedly expressed interest in the club, while a rival group with connections to the Emirates royal family is also considering a bid.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer bought United for $1.47 billion in 2005.
Since winning the Premier League title last season, Glazer has financed the purchase of more than $100 million worth of players, including England midfielder Owen Hargreaves and Argentina striker Carlos Tevez.
FC United, the breakaway club formed by supporters in protest against Glazer's takeover, reached the first qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time yesterday. The non-league team will play Fleetwood Town — also the opponents when Manchester United played its first match in the competition in 1886.
