London: Baron Capital now owns 24 percent of all the shares that were sold by United's owners, the Glazer family, in 2012, although that represents only a 2.5 percent stake in the club. The Glazers, who purchased United in 2005, released 10 percent of the club onto the stock market in August 2012, but they still retain a 90 percent stake.

Analysts believe that Baron Capital's move, announced on United's investor relations website, represents a long-term investment rather than a bid to one day acquire a controlling interest in the club. The news comes with the United team struggling following the departure of long-serving former manager Alex Ferguson in May last year.