Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a British millionaire, desires to purchase Manchester United.
According to a Bloomberg story, the Glazer family is willing to sell a minority part in the club, prompting the 69-year-interest. old’s
The Times was told by a representative of Ratcliffe’s that if the club is up for sale, Jim is a strong candidate to purchase it.
“We would be interested in discussing long-term ownership if something similar were attainable.”
United, the 20-time English champions, are currently in last place in the Premier League after losing both of their season-opening games under new manager Erik ten Hag.
The Glazers’ perceived lack of investment in the squad has been criticized as a result of the team’s dismal beginning.
New additions have failed to materialize this summer, including a futile pursuit of Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona, while superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo could depart Old Trafford.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, the team has struggled and has not won a trophy since 2017.
In recent years, there have been various protests against the Glazers’ ownership, notably one in May 2021 that postponed Manchester United’s home league match against Liverpool.
United supporters are planning another demonstration against the American family during Monday’s Old Trafford match against their Anfield rivals.
Born in Lancashire, Ineos’s principal shareholder Ratcliffe is a lifelong supporter of the team. He also owns Nice, Lausanne-Sport, and the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, while Ineos has a connection with the Mercedes Formula One team.
“This is not about whether or not money has been spent,” the official continued. “Knowing how important the club is to the community, Jim is considering what can be done today, and it feels like the timing is ripe for a fresh start.”
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) cautiously welcomed Ratcliffe’s interest but stated that a takeover would require fan backing.
A MUST representative stated that: “Supporters have advocated for change, but it must be the appropriate change.
“Any prospective new owner must be devoted to the club’s culture, philosophy, and best traditions. United must be willing to invest to return to its previous glory, and this investment must consist of genuine fresh funds spent on the playing side and the stadium.
“Finally, any new ownership structure must incorporate supporters into their working model, including a degree of fan share ownership.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, claimed he was joking when he tweeted that he was going to purchase United.
Forbes reports that Musk, 51, has a net worth of $270bn (£223bn), whereas Ratcliffe is thought to be worth $16.3bn (£13.5bn).
In May, after Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale, Ratcliffe made an unsuccessful $4.25 billion bid to acquire Chelsea.
Ratcliffe told that he was still a Manchester United supporter and that he was not bidding for the Red Devils since they were not for sale.
