The battle to buy Manchester United intensified on Wednesday as Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani submitted a second bid for the English giants. British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is also expected to make a fresh offer for the 20‑time champions. Raine, the merchant bank advising on the sale, had set a 2100 GMT deadline on Wednesday for interested parties to declare their proposals, but Sky Sports reported that the deadline was extended to allow bidders to fine‑tune their offers.
United’s owners, the Glazer family, have reportedly placed a world‑record £6 billion ($7.3 billion) valuation on the club. Sheikh Jassim’s bid for 100 percent control promises to wipe out United’s $620 million debt, fund a new stadium and training ground, and support both the men’s and women’s teams. A source close to the bid told AFP that Sheikh Jassim remains confident his offer is “the best for the club, fans and local community.”
INEOS founder Jim Ratcliffe, a lifelong United fan, has been more cautious, insisting he will not pay a “stupid” price in a bidding war for one of football’s most iconic clubs. “How do you decide the price of a painting? How do you decide the price of a house? It’s not related to how much it cost to build or how much it cost to paint,” Ratcliffe told the Wall Street Journal. “What you don’t want to do is pay stupid prices for things because then you regret it subsequently.” Ratcliffe, who is interested in the Glazers’ 69 percent stake, said his motivation would be “purely in winning things,” describing the club as a “community asset.”
Deeply unpopular with supporters since the Glazers’ £790 million leveraged takeover in 2005, the family appeared ready to cash out at a huge profit when they invited external investment in November. However, they may still reject a sale of a controlling stake, preferring to entertain minority‑share offers. Initial bids from the first round last month were believed to be worth around £4.5 billion, surpassing the Premier League record of £2.5 billion paid for Chelsea last year by a consortium led by LA Dodgers co‑owner Todd Boehly and private‑equity firm Clearlake Capital, which also pledged £1.75 billion for infrastructure and players.
Bidders are expected to hear from United next week, with another round of bidding still possible. If one bid emerges far ahead of the others, the club could grant that bidder exclusivity, allowing further negotiations before a final sale.
Ratcliffe visited Old Trafford last Friday with INEOS representatives, a day after a delegation from Sheikh Jassim’s group toured the stadium and training ground as part of their due‑diligence. A successful Qatari bid would give the Gulf state a prominent place in the Premier League—the world’s most‑watched domestic competition—but it would also be controversial. Sheikh Jassim is the son of former Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, and his close ties to the ruling elite could raise concerns about another state‑backed Premier League club. Manchester City’s fortunes were transformed after a 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, and in 2021 the Saudi sovereign wealth fund bought a controlling stake in Newcastle. Amnesty International has called on the Premier League to tighten ownership rules to prevent further “sportswashing.”
United, three‑time European champions, have not won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson secured their 20th English title in 2013. Nevertheless, they are enjoying a renaissance under Erik ten Hag, ending a six‑year trophy drought by lifting the League Cup last month.
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