Amanda Staveley asked if PIF could sell Newcastle to buy Manchester United

Saudi Arabia are not in the running for a state-backed takeover of Manchester United due to their investment in Newcastle.

Newcastle were subject to a Saudi-financed consortium takeover in 2021 with the country's sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund (PIF), purchasing an 80 per cent stake to become majority shareholders at St. James' Park.

The Glazers have received two formal proposals, from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, to acquire United, but reports elsewhere have suggested that investment from Saudi Arabia could be possible.

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It has been claimed that PIF could even consider selling Newcastle in order to acquire a majority share at Old Trafford, but Amanda Staveley, who is co-owner of the North East club, has now confirmed that is very unlikely.

“We didn’t go for a Tottenham, Chelsea or Liverpool, [because] why spend billions?" Staveley, who helped the Saudi consortium take control of Newcastle, said on Thursday at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit.

She was also asked whether PIF would sell Newcastle to buy United and replied: “No, I don’t think so.”

Newcastle's takeover has faced immense scrutiny and accusations of sportswashing due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record, which has led to calls for the Premier League to change their owners’ and directors’ test.

Although PIF is invested in Newcastle, that would not prevent investors from Saudi Arabia from lodging a bid to buy United.

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