Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly the Glazer family’s preferred bidder over Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
That’s according to The Sun, which is the first outlet to indicate the American owners’ choice in a report that came late on Wednesday evening.
Speculation suggested that there would be an update regarding the sale process this week, so more news may be revealed to supporters in the coming days.
Co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer were keen to retain some shares of England’s most successful club, hence the prolonged process that saw three rounds of bidding over the past months.
The two brothers will now keep their minority stakes whilst their four siblings will be bought out of any ownership they hold, making Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS the majority shareholders.
There will also be an “imminent exodus of the Old Trafford top brass including chief executive Richard Arnold”.
Qatar misses out
Qatar-based Sheikh Jassim did indeed submit the highest offer, which was in the region of £5 billion, however, INEOS’ proposal was deemed more lucrative as it was not for a complete takeover.
The Sun states: “A number of American financial institutions have also bid to buy minority stakes in the club that could allow the Glazers to retain control AND finance improvements to the Old Trafford stadium and Carrington training ground.”
Beginning of the end of mutd
Get it, fuck the Qatar twerkers and flag shaggers. An actual proper owner. Get in.
You are not a Man Utd fan. You are not serious.
Who the fuck are you?you just fan,Qatar will make your team better for sure
Muppet
This is so bad for Utd the whole priority was to get the glazers out !! They have destroyed our once powerful club and turned it into the laughing stock of world football. I can only see trouble ahead if this report is true.
Why?
Sir Rat is just a front for the greedy Glazers. Another era of troubled times ahead for the biggest ( not for long) club in the world. Sad sad sad, them bast…..
If true, this is probably the best outcome.
The Glazers were asset strippers. They invested little in capex – just enough for basic maintenance of the stadium and infrastructure. And took out the maximum they could via dividends and small scale selling of stock. When the clubs value stopped increasing they decided to cash in the bulk of their stock.
Without a majority stake the remaining Glazers won’t have control, though they may have influence. But essentially the sport and business plan will be Ratcliffes. And there should be much more emphasis on the sporting plan. There should also be a coherent long term strategy in the same way as Liverpool, Arsenal and City.