Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the British billionaire, has recently provided insight into his ongoing efforts to acquire Manchester United, amidst swirling claims that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is poised to succeed the Glazer family as the owners of the club.
The saga surrounding the ownership of Manchester United began when the club was first put up for sale in November 2022, attracting significant interest from various parties worldwide.
Two prominent figures emerged as frontrunners in the bid to purchase the club – Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Both individuals submitted multiple offers to the Glazer family, initiating a lengthy and convoluted process.
Despite almost a year having passed since the club was put up for sale, the future of its ownership remains uncertain. A recent report by the Daily Mail suggested that the club had been taken off the market, intensifying the air of uncertainty.
In a rare public statement, Sir Jim Ratcliffe shed light on his aspirations to secure a majority stake in Manchester United, while allowing the Glazers to retain a minority ownership position. In an interview conducted on INEOS’ YouTube channel, the 70-year-old billionaire shared that his pursuit of Manchester United draws from his experiences of acquiring French clubs Laussane-Sport and OGC Nice.
Ratcliffe expressed how the bid for Manchester United would have been inconceivable only a few years ago, were it not for the lessons he learned through his ownership of these French clubs, which were accompanied by challenging experiences.
He emphasized that “failure” would not be an option if he were to take charge, possibly hinting at the tumultuous ownership tenure of the Glazer family. Ratcliffe stated, “You can’t truly consider acquiring an iconic brand like Manchester United and contemplate failure, as such an outcome would be overwhelmingly public and excruciating.”
However, amidst reports suggesting that the Glazers have withdrawn Manchester United from the market, The Sun has reported a contrary narrative. According to The Sun, Sheikh Jassim has reportedly reached an agreement for a £6 billion takeover of the club, and the deal could potentially be finalized as early as mid-October.
Representatives for Sheikh Jassim are said to be in the process of completing their due diligence before proceeding with a full takeover at Old Trafford, effectively competing with Sir Jim Ratcliffe for control of the iconic football club.
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