A consortium of investors based in the United Arab Emirates is reportedly assembling a bid to buy Manchester United and has approached former stars Eric Cantona, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham to act as ambassadors.
The group, still gathering the necessary finance, is understood to have approached Cantona for a prominent ambassadorial role. Rooney, the club's record goalscorer, and Beckham, a key figure in the 1999 treble-winning side, are also on the consortium's radar for similar roles.
The Glazer family, who are the majority owners, indicated in November 2022 that part or all of the club might be for sale. This triggered interest from Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but Sheikh Jassim withdrew in late 2023 due to valuation disagreements.
In February 2024, Ratcliffe acquired 27.7% of the club, taking control of football operations, and has since increased his stake to 28.94%. The UAE consortium now aims to enter the fray, hoping to leverage the star power of former players to bolster their bid.
