The Glazer family reportedly told Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe that they do not want to sell Manchester United, but Ratcliffe is still interested in purchasing a Premier League team.
In May, Ratcliffe, 69, made a failed attempt to purchase Chelsea.
The wealthy individual met Joel and Avram Glazer, brothers who own Nice in France and Lausanne in Switzerland through their company, Ineos.
“It is owned by the six children of the father and they don’t want to sell,” Ratcliffe said.
He told told a Financial Times Live conference: “I met Joel and Avram and they are the nicest people. They are proper gentlemen.
“If it had been for sale in the summer, yes, we would probably have had a go following on from the Chelsea thing.
“But we can’t sit around hoping that one day Manchester United will become available.”
Since 2005, the Glazer family has owned United.
In May of last year, their Premier League home game against Liverpool was postponed as a result of a planned demonstration by United supporters against the owners.
In protest before the same match this season, in August, thousands of fans marched to Old Trafford.