Tuesday, November 22 was quite the day for Manchester United Football Club.
Announcing that club legend Cristiano Ronaldo was set to depart the club after a controversial interview earlier last week produced sour relations throughout the club, the news had everybody talking as one of football's greatest-ever players looks set to embark on a new career path.
But amazingly, that wasn't even the biggest news of the day for United. The Glazer Family, who have had shares in United since 2003, took majority control just two years later and have overseen a period of serious decline in trophies, playing quality and the general condition of Old Trafford.
READ MORE: The Glazer family confirms Manchester United is up for sale
But after years of fan protests and media interest, the American family announced on Tuesday that they would be willing to find investment from elsewhere to end a two-decade-long affiliation. But who could come in? We look at potential investors who could replace the Glazer family.
Michael Knighton
Michael Knighton was heavily tipped to be the man who took the reins at United just prior to the Premier League era beginning; though his failure to do so typified who he is as a person. The 71-year-old has had an obscene career path. A former youth player at Everton and Coventry City, he then became a teacher and bought Huddersfield Grammar School in 1983 after seven years in the school.
Then came his attempt at taking over United with a bid of £20m, which was accepted by then chief-executive Martin Edwards - with Knighton even parading the pitch on the opening day of the 1989-90 season.
However, other investors in his consortium pulled out and a deal could no longer be done, leaving others to take control of the club throughout the 1990s. With the opportunity to buy the club greater than ever, could an old flame be rekindled?
Muhsin Bayrak
Turkish billionaire Mushin Bayrak reportedly made a bid to buy Chelsea back in March after Roman Abramovich listed the Blues for sale after 19 years.
Chairman of the AB Group Holding company in his home nation, reports say that his net worth sits at around £8.5billion, putting him well into the bracket of the reported £5-9bn that is needed to buy United.
Whether he is willing to give that up is another question; but the interest he has in English football clubs is clearly there. Could United see him reinvigorate his interest in the beautiful game?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was another tycoon linked with Chelsea back in March after Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK Government over his involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Dubbed 'the wealthiest man in Britain', Ratcliffe has aired intentions of controlling United before, though of course there has never been a better time to do so than now.
He has the funds; and as a Mancunian, could he return to his home patch to change fortunes for United?
Mukesh Ambani
65-year-old Mukesh Ambani has an estimated value of £85bn; the second-richest person in Asia and the eighth richest person in the world.
He already owns cricket side Mumbai Indians, and became the founder of the Indian Super League - India's top-flight football league which sees average attendances of over 15,000.
If he can create competitions in a nation which is not famed for its professional football, there is no reason he can't come into United and change their landscape for the better. Whether he wishes to is another question.
Jim O'Neill
Jim O’Neill has exclusively told the Manchester Evening News that he would be interested in buying United - 12 years after he led the Red Knights’ attempt to prise the club out of the grasp of the Glazers.
The former Goldman Sachs boss told the MEN today that he could consider making a bid if the Glazers lowered their demands of around £5bn.
"[Those figures are] obviously what they’re floating, but I don’t think that’s realistic, especially as the few smart people that might be vaguely capable of putting those kinds of sums together can see the same information the Glazers can see," O'Neill said.
He added: "If I thought I could be part of some really value-based, purpose-based, better ownership of United, I would, but it would be very, very difficult. I don’t want to put myself through everything that happened 12 years ago unless I think the chances of success are strong and going into it I think it’s very hard."
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