While a full takeover proposal from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad could make Manchester United the most expensive team in the world, a bid from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS could keep the Glazers at the table.
A Qatari investor made a record-setting bid for Manchester United as the bidding window ended.
On Friday, Qatar Islamic Bank chairman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad made a last £5bn offer for the club.
The Qatari is reportedly pursuing 100 percent ownership.
Sheikh Jassim’s offer would make Manchester United the most expensive sports team in history by at least £200m, surpassing the £4.8bn deal to purchase the NFL’s Washington Commanders, but falls short of the Glazers’ valuation of the club, which is approximately £6bn.
It would include a guarantee of a separate investment pot to bolster Erik Ten Hag’s squad, as well as the development of the club’s infrastructure in terms of the Old Trafford stadium and training site, as well as the surrounding community.
Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of INEOS, has also submitted his final proposal for the club. He would receive nearly half of the club’s shares, leaving Avram and Joel Glazer with 40% ownership.
Leaving the Glazer family with any control over the club would likely anger fan groups. Who have wanted to sever ties with the outgoing proprietors for quite some time.
No late-day offers have been confirmed, including the Florida-based Elliott investment fund’s intended minority ownership in the club.
The final round of bidding brings the club one step closer to concluding the five-month saga that began in November 2022 when the Glazers announced they were considering selling United.
“They believe there is nothing comparable to this. It’s for the entirety of the club, it’s debt-free, and money will be made available not only for Erik Ten Hag but also for enhancing the club’s infrastructure, similar to what Manchester City has done in Manchester.
In the coming days, the Glazer family and Raine Group, who assisted in last year’s sale of Chelsea to American billionaire Todd Boehly, are expected to evaluate the proposals and decide which, if any, to accept.
United supporters have been at variance with the Glazers since 2005 when they acquired the club and incurred massive debt.
1958 will protest Sunday’s match against Aston Villa by marching through Manchester and boycotting 18 minutes.
“We are boycotting the game for 18 minutes,” stated the 1958. “One minute for each year that the Glazers have driven our club into the ground.”
