Manchester United’s English striker Marcus Rashford celebrated with the club’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro after scoring their third goal in the English League Cup quarter‑final against Charlton Athletic at Old Trafford on 10 January 2023. Manchester United won the match 3‑0. (Photo by Oli Scarff/AFP)
Bids from Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe to purchase Manchester United have moved to the next stage of a potential takeover, according to reports on Sunday. Sky Sports and The Telegraph said the bidders will now be allowed to conduct due diligence by accessing detailed financial information about the club. Neither offer has reached the £6 billion ($7.2 billion) asking price set by the current owners, the Glazer family.
The Glazers have been deeply unpopular with United fans since their leveraged £790 million takeover in 2005, which left the club heavily indebted. Under their ownership, United’s on‑field fortunes have also declined; the recent League Cup victory over Newcastle was the club’s first trophy in six years, and its last Premier League title came a decade ago.
Sheikh Jassim, a Qatari banker, aims to acquire 100 percent of the 20‑time English champions and has gained some fan support by promising to wipe out United’s debt. However, the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust has voiced concerns about Qatar’s human‑rights record and the sporting integrity of owning both Manchester United and French giants Paris Saint‑Germain.
Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS company seeks majority control of United by buying out the Glazer family’s stake. A self‑declared United fan, Ratcliffe is one of the UK’s wealthiest individuals, with an estimated net worth of £12.5 billion derived from his global chemical business. (AFP)
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