Newcastle United: Fans react to claim that Saudi PIF were looking at takeover of Manchester United

Plenty of Newcastle United fans have reacted to a claim from the Evening Standard that Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) were looking at a takeover of Manchester United as recently as October.

As per the report, it is believed that the interested parties were willing to pay as much as £4.5 billion to take over from the Glazers.

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However, it is understood that an official proposal was never put forward to the Red Devils, even though intermediaries in the UK were tasked with drawing up a potential deal.

Ed Woodward has long-maintained that the clubs owners in the US have no intention of selling, despite pressures from supporters groups to end their 15-year reign.

Speculation about an imminent bid gathered pace when the Manchester club’s group managing director Richard Arnold visited Saudi Arabia last year to speak at the Future Investment Initiative conference.

However, a deal was never struck and instead the Saudi-led consortium have opted for the Magpies instead.

These members of the Toon faithful reacted to the claim on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/The_Magpies_/status/1253600713994878977

https://twitter.com/LeroyTweeter/status/1253626546151198720

Love it 👌😍

— Magpie Ranger 🇸🇦 (@MagRanger1892) April 24, 2020

Well I think with all this stress put upon us Saudis shud let us in sjp for nout first match haha

— Kevtoonarmybell (@KevinBe69383555) April 24, 2020