SAUDI ARABIA’S Public Investment Fund will not be looking to invest in Manchester United – although a senior Saudi official has suggested that private individuals from the country could be involved in a potential takeover at Old Trafford.

Saudi’s PIF are the majority shareholders at Newcastle United, having acquired an 80 per cent stake in the club last year.

Prior to completing their takeover at St James’ Park, there had been suggestions that the PIF might look to buy Manchester United, but at the time, the Glazer family were not looking to sell up.

That situation has changed, with the Glazers announcing this week that they would be willing to either sell their entire stake in Manchester United or agree to major external investment.

As majority shareholders at Newcastle, the PIF, which is Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, could either reduce their stake in the Magpies in order to buy in to Manchester United or take up a small stake at Old Trafford.

However, speaking in an interview that was quoted in The Times, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, said: “The PIF just invested in Newcastle and I think we are focusing as a PIF on that.

“But if there is a private (Saudi) investor that wants to come in (at Manchester United), why not?

“I think it is a good opportunity and if the numbers add up and we can all benefit from that from a business perspective, why not? If there really is an opportunity that benefits us, I would encourage the private sector to do so.”

Since the PIF took over on Tyneside, Newcastle have been transformed from a club battling against relegation to a side challenging for a potential place in the Champions League, and senior Saudi officials have been delighted with the way their involvement with the Magpies has been going.

The Crown Prince continued: “Newcastle, as a club, are benefiting from this purchase, and I think Manchester United, or any other club, would look at these opportunities.”

Newcastle United’s first-team squad are heading to Saudi Arabia at the start of next month for their second training camp in the country.

Eddie Howe and his players will be based in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and will enjoy the benefits of warm-weather training camp as well as completing a series of commercial obligations.

Newcastle will play a friendly against Saudi side al-Hilal on Thursday, December 8, and will return to domestic action when they host Bournemouth in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, December 21.