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Saudi Arabia denies reported Manchester United takeover bid

RYAD KRAMDI / AFP / Getty

Saudi Arabia's media minister has dismissed suggestions that the kingdom's crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, is interested in buying Manchester United for an estimated £3.8 billion.

"Reports claiming that HRH the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman intends on buying Manchester United are completely false," Turki Al-Shabanah tweeted Sunday.

He added that United only contacted Saudi Arabia for a sponsorship opportunity.

According to The Sun's John Hutchinson, however, Bin Salman hopes to tempt the Glazer family into selling United before the start of next season. The Glazers bought the Red Devils in 2005 for a reported £790 million.

Bin Salman reportedly wants to buy United to rival the United Arab Emirates' investments in Manchester City.

Saudi Arabia faced heavy criticism in October after the death of journalist and critic Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in Istanbul's Saudi consulate. The kingdom has also been denounced for its human rights record.

United co-owner Avram Glazer reportedly withdrew from an investment forum in Saudi Arabia following the news of Khashoggi's death.

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