Manchester United bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes he is still in the race to strike a deal with the Glazer family, who are being advised on the takeover by the Raine Group.
INEOS chief and Mancunian billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke newspapers including The Sun in a briefing that was published late on Thursday night.
I am fully aware that a lot of our readers won’t appreciate us giving The Sun any credit, however, United fans have not heard from any of the bidders since the takeover process began eight months ago due to an NDA.
Ratcliffe, who grew up as a United fan, made attempts to buy Chelsea when their takeover was being handled by the Raine Group. He was unsuccessful then but he now believes a special club like United is a “rare art” and his bid is exactly what it needs in the wake of 18 torrid years of Glazernomics.
He has met United’s current owners more than once, but explained: “I’ve signed an non-disclosure agreement so I can’t say too much.
“But there is still a process — and we are in the process.”
This is a different tone to the Qatari briefing that was reported by The Guardian yesterday, suggesting that Sheikh Jassim was becoming impatient with the Glazers’ decision-making process over the takeover.
Ratcliffe added: “We have a good offer and we have met with the Glazers a couple of times.
“We have had good discussions with them. We would still very much like to do it. And we would be doing it for the right reasons.
“But in the end it is their decision not our decision.”
It’s clear from this that Ratcliffe is feeling confident and patient with the Glazers at the same time. He knows that stamping his feet with these leeches won’t get him anywhere.
Quizzed further over why he had spent so long in the race, Ratcliffe expressed his emotional attachment to the football club.
Ratcliffe concluded: “Teams don’t come around very often. There are some special teams and the value of them tends to go up.
“The value of teams like this one is very special and rare – like art.
“I don’t think the world of sport will change that much in ten years.
“It is one of our key interests – get the lads in the pub and football is one of the two or three subjects we ever talk about.
“It’s football. We’ve worked really hard all our lives. Now we’ve made a bit of money so you’re allowed to have some fun, so long as it’s sensible economically.”
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