A senior Saudi royal and boxing figure has publicly demanded the Glazer family end their ownership of Manchester United, following the dramatic sacking of manager Ruben Amorim.
Amorim's Turbulent Reign Ends Abruptly
Ruben Amorim was dismissed as Manchester United head coach on Monday morning, 5 January 2026, concluding a chaotic 14-month spell in charge at Old Trafford. The former Sporting CP manager's exit appears to have been triggered by a post-match outburst following United's 1-1 draw with Leeds United over the weekend.
In his rant, Amorim demanded that other departments and staff, including the sporting director, needed to start performing their roles properly, signalling a significant fallout with the club's hierarchy.
Alalshikh's Social Media Intervention
Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and a high-profile boxing event organiser, swiftly reacted to the news. A self-declared Manchester United fan, Alalshikh posted a celebratory message on social media platform X.
His post read: "Praise be to God… finally… may the Glazer [family] follow soon", accompanied by an image of Amorim marked with the word 'sacked'. This is not the first time Alalshikh has commented on the club's ownership structure.
A History of Ownership Criticism and Speculation
The American Glazer family, who have been majority owners for over two decades, face persistent criticism from fans, largely due to the vast debt loaded onto the club. Although football operations passed to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos group in 2024, the Glazers remain the majority shareholders.
In October, Alalshikh sparked widespread debate by claiming the club was in advanced talks with a new investor, a statement he later clarified. He posted: "Just to clarify, I am not the investor, nor are they from my nation. I'm posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it might not necessarily happen." No subsequent investment deal was reported.
Alalshikh's latest intervention highlights the ongoing discontent surrounding the Glazers' tenure and adds a significant external voice to the long-running debate about the future of one of the world's most famous football clubs.
