The Glazer family are now considering selling Manchester United, it emerged last night.
The world-famous club could fetch anything between £5billion and £9billion, it has been claimed.
On an extraordinary day at Old Trafford that also saw the exit of star player Cristiano Ronaldo, it was revealed that United's controversial owners are exploring "strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions".
Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer, United's co-chairmen, have instructed the Raine Group, which helped broker the £2.5billion sale of Chelsea over the summer, as the club's exclusive financial advisers.
United fans, who have long protested against the Glazers' 17-year ownership at Old Trafford and the gradual decline of the club on the pitch, welcomed the news.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire majority shareholder of chemical group Ineos and a United fan since childhood, has previously spoken to the Glazers about buying the club - and many of the club's supporters will hope he now revives that interest.
It also remains to be seen if any of the candidates who lost out to Todd Boehly in the race to buy Chelsea, such as the American billionaires Josh Harris and David Blitzer, owners of the Philadelphia 76ers NBA franchise and minority shareholders in Crystal Palace, opt to throw their hat into the ring.
Chelsea went for £4.25billion
Mr Boehly's takeover at Chelsea included the promise of a further £1.75billion in investment, taking the total price to £4.25billion.
The Telegraph says it is thought the Glazers would want at least £5billion for United, although there have been claims they could ask for as much as £9billion.
The news comes barely a fortnight after it was reported that Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the American owners of Liverpool, had put the Merseyside club up for sale.
FSG and the Glazers had been driving forces behind the failed European Super League plot, which collapsed amid a furious backlash in April last year.
In a rare statement, the Glazer brothers said: "The strength of Manchester United rests on the passion and loyalty of our global community of 1.1billion fans and followers.
"As we seek to continue building on the club's history of success, the board has authorised a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives.
"We will evaluate all options to ensure that we best serve our fans and that Manchester United maximises the significant growth opportunities available to the club today and in the future.
Fully focused
"Throughout this process we will remain fully focused on serving the best interests of our fans, shareholders, and various stakeholders."
The club said "there can be no assurance that the review being undertaken will result in any transaction involving the company" and there would be no more statements until a deal is done.
Rumours of a potential sale by the Glazers have been rife for years and have intensified since the summer, with a host of clubs looking at their options after a feeding frenzy of interest in America ahead of Mr Boehly's takeover of Chelsea.
United have not won the Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson's final season as manager in 2013 and have since watched the club overtaken in the trophy stakes by bitter local rivals Manchester City.
FTSE 100
The UK's top share index, the FTSE 100, was up another 24 points at 7,476 shortly after opening this morning, following yesterday's 75-point gain.
Brent crude futures were 0.71% higher at $88.98 a barrel.
Companies reporting today
- Full-year results: Britvic
- Half-year results: Halfords, Johnson Matthey, Pets at Home Group, United Utilities Group