Manchester United

Manchester United's preseason tour of the United States is expected to include a game against Wrexham.

Per ESPN's Rob Dawson, the game will be played in San Diego in July.

In a statement to Dawson, Wrexham said plans to tour the United States "are at an advanced stage," with details to be confirmed "when a schedule is finalized."

"Full details of the games the club will play in and where, will be released across the Club's communication channels when they are confirmed," the statement said. "We would advise fans against making any arrangements to travel to the games based on speculation, to avoid disappointment."

Rumors about Manchester United touring the United States have persisted since December. Jeremy Cross of The Daily Star reported the club is expected to play a game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas against a Premier League opponent.

Cross noted United manager Erik ten Hag "wants to test the discipline of his stars by including Vegas in his side's tour of the United States."

Wrexham has seen its profile increase significantly since 2021, when actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the club for around $2.5 million.

The Red Dragons were the subject of an FX documentary Welcome to Wrexham that chronicled Reynolds and McElhenney's attempts to improve the team and raise its profile within the Wrexham community.

Wrexham just missed promotion to England's League Two—Wrexham are one of a handful of Welsh clubs that are part of the English football pyramid—after a runner-up finish during the 2021-22 season. The club is currently in second place in the National League standings with 78 points and has already guaranteed qualification for the National League playoffs.

After receiving multiple bids to sell the team, the Glazer family have an opportunity to remain as owners of Manchester United.

According to Mark Ogden of ESPN, American hedge fund Elliott Management has offered to provide financial backing to co-chairpeople Joel and Avram Glazer, which would allow them to retain ownership.

The news comes after Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe have each placed bids on the club to become majority owners, via Rob Dawson of ESPN.

The latest proposal from Elliott Management's is for "possible financing, not a bid for the club," per Ogden.

The Glazers are refusing to sell lower than their valuation of £6 billion ($7.2 billion), per Tom Blow of Mirror, and the two main bids have fallen short of that mark.

This would set a world record for a sports franchise sale and be significantly higher than the £4.3 billion ($5.2 billion) Todd Boehly paid for Chelsea last year. According to Forbes, Manchester United was worth $4.6 billion (£3.8 billion) in 2022, 19th overall among sports franchises.

The Glazer family initially purchased Manchester United for £790 million in 2005, but there have been reports about a sale since an announcement in November.

"As part of this process, the Board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the Company," the club said in a statement.

Fans have been pushing for the unpopular owners to sell, including protests at Old Trafford.

New financial backing to keep the Glazers in charge likely wouldn't go over well with the supporters, although the investment could help the "modernisation of Old Trafford and the construction of a new training ground," as Ogden reported.

There is significant interest in the sale of Manchester United, but the Glazer family won't sell the club for less than £6 billion, according to Tom Blow of Mirror.

Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe have each placed bids on the club ahead of Friday's "soft" deadline, per Blow.

According to Rob Dawson of ESPN, Al Thani's bid was below the Glazer's £6 billion valuation.

"Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani today confirmed his submission of a bid for 100% of Manchester United Football Club," Al Thani said in a statement. "The bid plans to return the club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and—above all—will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football club once more."

Ratcliffe, the richest man in Great Britain, confirmed his interest in purchasing Manchester United in January.

The head of chemical company INEOS previously attempted to buy Chelsea last year, but the club sold to Todd Boehly for £4.25 billion.

According to Forbes, Chelsea was valued at $3.1 billion (£2.57 billion) in 2022, while Manchester United was worth $4.6 billion (£3.82 billion), 19th overall among sports franchises.

The £6 billion price tag would be a world record for a sports franchise, and significantly more than the £790 million that the Glazers paid in 2005.

Fans have long had disputes with ownership, including massive protests last year.

The legendary club hasn't won a Premier League title since 2013, finishing outside the top four in five of the last nine seasons. The squad entered Sunday in third place in the table.

A new prospective buyer has entered the bidding process to purchase Manchester United, but not at the price the owners were expecting.

According to ESPN's Rob Dawson, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the chairperson of Qatar Islamic Bank, confirmed that he has launched a bid for the club.

"However, Al Thani's bid was below the club's valuation of £6 billion ($7.2 billion) set by owners the Glazer family," Dawson stated, while also noting that the Qatar Islamic Bank's assets are estimated at more than £40 billion ($48 billion).

Al Thani is now the second person to confirm his interest in buying Manchester United, joining British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is the chairman and CEO of chemical company INEOS.

Ratcliffe filed his bid on Friday, according to The Telegraph.

Al Thani has said he is a United fan. The statement announcing his bid read, in part:

"The bid plans to return the club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and—above all—will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football club once more.

"The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim's Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the club supports."

Per Dawson, a soft deadline of 5 p.m. ET (10 p.m. GMT) on Friday for offers was set by merchant bankers Raine Group, acting on behalf of the Glazer family.

Charges of attempted rape and assault filed against Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood have been dropped by prosecutors.

"In this case a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case," a Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said in a statement.

"Manchester United notes the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service that all charges against Mason Greenwood have been dropped," Manchester United said in a statement. "The club will now conduct its own process before determining next steps. We will not make any further comment until that process is complete."

Greenwood, 21, was arrested last January after being accused of rape and other forms of abuse by a woman on social media. He was formally charged in October.

Once considered a crown jewel in Manchester United's developmental system, Greenwood has not participated in any club activities since the accusations first arose. Nike also terminated its sponsorship agreement with Greenwood.

Neither Manchester United nor Greenwood have not commented on the case being dropped. It's unclear if a pathway to him returning to the club exists, but he remains under contract through at least the 2024-25 season.

His salary has been paid throughout his time away from the team despite the ongoing legal proceedings.

Manchester United sits atop the Premier League.

Well, at least in terms of overall value. On Tuesday, Sportico released its full list of Premier League valuations, with the Red Devils coming in at No. 1 (figures in USD):

1. Manchester United: $5.95 billion
2. Liverpool: $4.71 billion
3. Manchester City: $4.43 billion
4. Arsenal: $3.6 billion
5. Chelsea: $3.47 billion
6. Tottenham: $3.19 billion
7. West Ham: $665 million
8. Everton: $600 million
9. Leicester City: $545 million
10. Newcastle United: $440 million
11. Leeds United: $380 million
12. Aston Villa: $370 million
13. Crystal Palce: $335 million
14. Wolverhampton Wanderers: $295 million
15. Southampton: $275 million
16. Fulham: $260 million
17. Brighton & Hove Albion: $235 million
18. Brentford: $200 million
19. Nottingham Forest: $160 million
20. Bournemouth: $145 million

Per Sportico, "The valuation estimates are built around multiples of revenue based on recent comparable transactions. They are meant to be enterprise values—equity, plus net debt—for a control sale, as limited partnership transactions can often be done at a premium or discount based on the circumstances."

Manchester United has long been one of the most prominent sports franchises in the world, so it isn't a major surprise that it tops the list. What United hasn't done is topped the Premier League table since the 2012–13 season.

No Premier League club has won more than United's 20 league titles, with Liverpool a close second at 19. Like United and Arsenal, the Reds are a legacy brand and have consistently been one of England's most decorated clubs.

Manchester City burst upon the scene after receiving an influx of cash from owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who bought the club alongside the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008. They've won six EPL titles since and have emerged as one of the biggest and best clubs in European domestic football.

Chelsea has seen much upheaval since the change in ownership from Russian oligarch and billionaire Roman Abramovich to a new ownership group led by American Todd Boehly, though the Blues remain one of the most prominent and recognizable clubs in the world.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have attempted to keep pace after Manchester City and Chelsea rose in prominence in the 21st century. After Spurs, the drop-off in valuations is steep, with West Ham and all subsequent clubs falling below the $1 billion mark.

Some clubs may continue to climb the ranks, however. Newcastle has seen a 63 percent bump in value across the past two years, largely down to the acquisition of the club from an ownership group led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

"With an EPL club, you own a team in the best and most watched football league in the world's favorite sport," Inner Circle Sports co-founder Steve Horowitz told Sportico. "It is the attraction for American investors and those from every corner of the globe."

Cristiano Ronaldo will reportedly join Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr after his midseason departure from Manchester United, per José Félix Díaz of Marca.

The two-and-a-half-year deal is reportedly worth over €500, including a signing-on fee and financial incentives from advertising. His annual salary of nearly 200 million euros will make him the highest-paid athlete in the world.

After a tumultuous few months to open the 2022-23 season, United announced on November 22 that the two sides had mutually agreed to part ways. Ronaldo has been competing with Portugal at the World Cup since then, helping the national team reach the knockout stage.

The 37-year-old had been seeking a move away from Old Trafford since the summer transfer window, although there was reportedly limited interest among the top leagues, per Mark Ogden of ESPN.

Ronaldo struggled to find playing time once the season began, making just four starts among 10 appearances in the Premier League. He tallied only one goal and no assists in league play.

The veteran also received a one-match ban after refusing to sub into a match in October, and his relationship with the Old Trafford club and United manager Erik ten Hag finally deteriorated with an explosive interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored.

The latest move allows Ronaldo to get a fresh start as he tries to add to his incredible career resume.

The superstar has been among the best players in the world over the past two decades, winning the Ballon d'Or five times. He helped teams win five Champions League titles, and he also won domestic trophies with United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

Though his production has slowed in recent years, he finished third in the Premier League with 18 goals in 2021-22, adding six more in seven Champions League matches.

Ronaldo should once again put up big numbers for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Though he might be unfamiliar with the competition, his skill set should allow him to be a difference-maker right away.

Al Nassr is second in the SPL table, three points behind Al Shabab FC through eight matches, although the club has won three titles since 2014.

The global superstar should also bring plenty of attention to Al Nassr while likely selling millions of jerseys, helping justify the investment.

Manchester United are open to a loan move for Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic during the January transfer window, according to Mark Ogden of ESPN.

The club could look to strengthen its attack after parting ways with Cristiano Ronaldo last week.

Newcastle United and Arsenal have also reportedly been made aware of Pulisic's availability when the window opens. Per Ogden, the United States international is hoping to find a new club after seeing limited playing time with Chelsea this season.

Pulisic has appeared in 13 of Chelsea's 14 Premier League matches this season, but he's made only three starts and ranks 16th on the team in minutes. He has one goal and one assist in league play this year, adding one assist in four Champions League appearances.

The 24-year-old had been seeking a move away from the club during the summer window, but Chelsea were "reluctant to sanction a move" for the forward after losing several other attacking options, per James Olley of ESPN.

There would still be a fight for playing time at Manchester United alongside Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony, but Pulisic could get a fresh start with a new location after an up-and-down career with Chelsea.

Newcastle United also have quality wing options in Allan Saint-Maximin and the red-hot Miguel Almirón, although Pulisic could rotate in for a squad that is surprisingly in third place in the Premier League table.

First-place Arsenal could also use more help offensively as it tries to compete for a championship.

Despite Pulisic's slow start to the year, he's proved himself in the past with six league goals in 22 appearances (13 starts) last season. He scored nine EPL goals with four assists in 2019-20 before helping Chelsea win the Champions League title in 2021.

The Glazer family has reportedly placed a record asking price on Manchester United after announcing Tuesday that it is considering the possibility of selling the English Premier League club.

According to ESPN's Rob Dawson, the Glazers would only be willing to sell Manchester United for a higher price than any professional sports franchise has ever sold for. The record is currently owned by the NFL's Denver Broncos, who sold for $4.65 billion this year.

Per Dawson, Forbes has given Manchester United a valuation of $4.59 billion, but the Glazers believe they could receive offers of $7.25 billion or more.

By comparison, a $7.25 billion sale would more than double the sale price of another top EPL club in Chelsea. Earlier this year, Chelsea sold for $3.02 billion.

In a statement released by Manchester United on Tuesday, it was noted that the Glazer family would consider multiple options, including a full sale and new investments into the club:

"Manchester United announces today that the board is commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club. The process is designed to enhance the club's future growth, with the ultimate goal of positioning the club to capitalize on opportunities both on the pitch and commercially. As part of this process, the board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the company.

"This will include an assessment of several initiatives to strengthen the club, including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, and expansion of the club's commercial operations on a global scale, each in the context of enhancing the long-term success of the club's men's, women's and academy teams, and bringing benefits to fans and other stakeholders."

In addition to Manchester United, the Glazer family owns the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Malcolm Glazer, the patriarch of the Glazer family who died in 2014, purchased the Bucs in 1995 for a then-NFL record price of $192 million.

The Buccaneers have won two Super Bowls since then, and Forbes valued the franchise at $3.675 billion in August.

An announcement of a possible Manchester United sale came on the same day that Manchester United announced it had agreed to a mutual termination of the contract of superstar Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 37-year-old Ronaldo, who is one of the greatest goal scorers in the history of soccer, played for Manchester United from 2003 to 2009, and he returned to the club in 2021 after stints at Real Madrid and Juventus.

United are one of the most storied clubs in English soccer history, but they have not won an EPL title since 2013 or a UEFA Champions League title since 2008, and they are fifth in the EPL table this season, 11 points behind league-leading Arsenal.

Newcastle United reportedly has "no interest" in the potential signing of superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo following his release by Manchester United on Tuesday.

ESPN's Rob Dawson reported Wednesday that United hasn't placed any restrictions on where CR7 can sign following the mutual termination of his contract, but the Magpies have "ruled out" the idea despite prior transfer rumors involving the fellow Premier League club.

In October, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe pushed aside the original Ronaldo speculation, saying the club was instead focused on a "longer-term vision."

"At the moment, we have quite an aging squad, so we probably need to invest in more young players," Howe told reporters. "That's probably a big part of our progression, really. We need to get the average age down, so it might not be a signing that we would necessarily look to make—but not underestimating the quality of the player."

There were questions about whether that stance could change with Newcastle sitting third in the Premier League table at the World Cup break, but it sounds like the club still won't pursue the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Meanwhile, Dawson noted Ronaldo's representatives are hopeful to restart talks with Chelsea, whose new owner Todd Boehly showed interest over the summer before being waved off by manager Thomas Tuchel, who was subsequently fired in September.

Renewed interest is also expected to come from Saudi Arabia, where an unnamed club made a substantial contract offer worth £2 million per week during the summer window, per Dawson.

The number of clubs involved could depend heavily on how well Ronaldo performs for Portgual's national team during the World Cup. It'll be an opportunity for the 37-year-old legend to showcase his form after being sparsely involved at Old Trafford this season.

A strong showing in Qatar would help him create more potential suitors, including the possibility of Champions League clubs looking for attacking depth for the rest of the term.

Since his contract was terminated, he's eligible to sign at any time without having to wait for the January transfer window. It may still take several weeks for him to find a new club as he focuses his efforts on trying to lead his national side to a World Cup title, though.

Portugal begins play in Qatar on Thursday with a Group H opener against Ghana.