With Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United, could now be the right time to buy shares in one of the world’s top football teams?
To date Manchester United is the UK’s most successful football club with a following that extends around the globe – with 20 top-flight league titles, 66 major trophies and now the return of Cristiano Ronaldo.
It’s going to be interesting to see what type of dynamics the club displays on the field now that its golden son has returned. Previously, and between 2003 and 2009, Ronaldo scored 118 goals out of a total of 292 games.
It seems like now more than ever, the time might be right to buy shares in the Red Devils.
Originally named Newton Heath LYR FC back in 1878, it changed its name to Manchester United and made Old Trafford its home in 1910. Incredible success has made this team a local and global phenomena and one of the richest clubs in football – ranked 4th according to Forbes at a value of £2.97 billion. When it comes to investing in the club, that domain is mainly occupied by Middle Eastern sheiks and Russian Oligarchs. However, fans too can enter into this lucrative realm and invest.
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How to procure shares in Manchester United
Manchester made its way into the big league of the stock market when it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012 under the ticker name, MANU. To procure shares in MAN UTD, you’ll need to follow these basic steps:
Establish a share trading account.
Deposit funds into said account.
Look for MANU on the broker trading platform that you signed up with.
Decide how much you’d like to invest.
Invest and receive your shares.
Alternatives to buying Manchester United shares
Buying shares in Manchester United is not imperative when it comes to investing. For one thing, the procurement of shares is a pricey affair. Brokers often require, and set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission, that you have at least $25 000 in your broker account. Also, when you buy stocks, you cannot for instance just buy one for $17.28; you need to buy it in a set bundle, which in turn can be prohibitively expensive. Alternatively you could sign up with an online trading broker that offers spread betting.
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You can literally speculate on the movement of the NYSE, on which MANU is listed, or you can speculate on the share price movement of MANU. Startup capital is much less, usually in the vicinity of $500 and the potential profits can be good. Plus, with this type of broker account, you don’t have to stop at the NYSE, you can do spread betting on the biggest companies listed on FTSE 100 or the ones listed on the Japanese Nikkei 225. The options are eclectic. However, like any form of investments, risks are rife, so do your homework.
Potential risks of buying Manchester United shares
It would be impossible to speak of the risks of investment, especially in a sport club, without making mention of the global health crises. Just shy of two years ago, no one would have imagined clubs playing to empty stadiums. The entire European football fraternity has felt the backlash mainly in the form of sponsorship withdrawal. Some of the flack has been picked up by online trading platforms due to the fact that these matches are still televised and because the current health crises has forced many people to re-look their vocation options.
In terms of demographics, the football world is very much aligned with the trading world – mainly males with an interest in gambling, trading and sport. So, right now, as it stands, a lack of and alternative sponsoring is sure to affect the share price of Manchester United. If you’re going to buy shares in this top football club, you’ll need to cut out the noise, buckle down and be prepared for the long haul.
Sport
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
The Manc -
12th September 2021 
