Glazer family may consider selling stake in Manchester United: Report

Manchester United, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The family has held some preliminary discussions about the possibility of bringing in a new investor, but are not yet ready to cede control of the English soccer club, which could be valued at about 5 billion pounds, according to the report.

Read AlsoElon Musk's tweets about buying Manchester United no joke for fed-up fans

Having seen eight coaches come and go in less than 10 years, Manchester United fans know their false dawns. Wednesday shed a different light on strife at the giant football club: Elon Musk said he was buying it - and then said it was all a joke.

Manchester United did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Earlier, Elon Musk said in a tweet that he was going to buy the club - only to say a little later it was all part of "a long-running joke". Manchester United was bought by the American Glazer family for 790 million pounds ($954.48 million) in 2005. Although it has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2012, the Glazers retain majority ownership. United fans have been clamoring for a change of ownership at the club - the three-time winners of the European Cup, the most prestigious club competition in the global game - following its disappointing performance in recent years.