Manchester United: Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim withdraws from process to buy club

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is close to agreeing a deal to buy 25 per cent of Manchester United after Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani withdrew from the bidding process.

Sheikh Jassim's offer, which valued United at more than £5bn, was believed to be the only bid for 100 per cent of the club.

But it is understood that the Qatari's valuation was not sufficient for the Glazers, who have owned United since 2005 - so Shiekh Jassim has withdrawn from the process.

The other proposal is to buy around 25 per cent of the club by petrochemicals billionaire Sir Jim, who has said he has been a fan of the club since childhood, which now looks close to being agreed.

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Sky News learned last month that Sir Jim's Ineos Sports vehicle proposed to the controlling Glazer family a deal that would see it acquiring chunks of both their shares and the stock publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in equal proportion.

That offer would entail making an offer at the same price for both sets of shares.

Sheikh Jassim wanted to buy the club outright and launched what his party described as a fifth and final bid in June in an effort to get the deal over the line.

The Qatari's first bid for the club was made in February.

Sheikh Jassim's bid team had floated the possibility of withdrawing in May after a lack of progress since making an apparent final offer requested by the Glazers in April.

Sheikh Jassim is understood to have raised his offer in June but it was not satisfactory for the Glazers despite being far more than the club's $3.3bn valuation on the New York Stock Exchange.

The difference between the parties is over the valuation - which still leaves open the possibility of Sheikh Jassim being enticed back into the protracted process - as protests against the Glazers continue.

Anger against the ownership has simmered and grown as United have started the season by losing four of their opening eight Premier League games to sit 10th in the table.

Erik ten Hag's side have also lost both Champions League group games so far in the 2023-24 campaign.

Sheikh Jassim's offer would have made United the most expensive sports team in history by at least £200m, eclipsing the deal to buy NFL side Washington Commanders, but still fell short of the Glazers' own valuation of the club at around £6bn, it was reported earlier this year.

The Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST) has urged the Glazer family to "make their position clear".

"We hope this news accelerates that process rather than delays it," a statement said following Sheikh Jassim's withdrawal. "Based on the last 11 months, no-one can be quite sure."

United are in need of investment to upgrade Old Trafford and win the Premier League for the first time since a record 20th league title in 2013.

The Glazers have owned Manchester United since buying it for just under £800m in 2005 - an 18-year tenure marked by protests and a conspicuous dearth of trophies since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, the club's former manager, also in 2013.

The Red Devils did win their first trophy in six years by beating Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final back in February.

Glazers 'would rather do a deal with Ratcliffe'

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Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:

"I can confirm that Sheikh Jassim of Qatar has withdrawn from the process.

"The Glazers have indicated that they would rather do a deal with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is offering to buy an initial 25 per cent stake in Manchester United, so Sheikh Jassim has withdrawn from the sale process for Manchester United.

"Now, reading between the lines, my information is, as far as the football side of Manchester United is concerned, they will be disappointed.

"I know that people close to Erik ten Hag for instance were looking forward to Sheikh Jassim buying Manchester United, they were looking forward to the fact that he was willing to clear the club's debts, the debts that had been loaded onto the club by the Glazer family from when they bought Manchester United 18 years ago.

"He was looking forward to the fact that he would have more money to spend in the transfer market, he was looking forward to the fact that Old Trafford would be redeveloped, there would be more money made available for the training ground Carrington to be redeveloped as well.

"But the owners, the Glazer family, have decided that they would rather do a deal with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group who are proposing to buy a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United and looking ahead to buy all of the Glazer's shareholding in the club.

"But this is just more uncertainty - more Manchester United in limbo.

"I think it is good news if you are a Liverpool fan or a Manchester City supporter, or an Arsenal supporter, or a Chelsea supporter. It just means more uncertainty for Manchester United. The Glazers are not leaving."

Ratcliffe deal 'would still leave Glazers in overall control'

Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris:

"Sir Jim is well-versed in the world of sport, with owning Nice in France, as well as investing in cycling too.

"It would lead to fresh investment in the club, but that would not deliver what so many fans are calling for [in terms of] a change of ownership after so long. The anger has only grown throughout the Glazers' reign.

"We've heard from the Manchester United Supporters' Trust who have said the club are in desperate need of new ownership and they hope that this news accelerates the process rather than delays it.

"But for many fans they were hoping Sheikh Jassim would offer a fresh era with 100 per cent control of the club. If it was to be Sir Jim Ratcliffe investing in the club it would still leave the Glazers in overall control."

'There will be confusion as to what happens next'

United We Stand editor Andy Mitten:

"It's some news because it's been 11 months now since a strategic review was announced and Manchester United fans have grown extremely frustrated at the lack of news, the lack of communication from the Glazer family.

"I think they have exhausted any goodwill from Manchester United fans. You have seen persistent protests against the Glazer family at almost every Manchester United match

"I think there will be mixed feelings for Manchester United fans. Some will be disappointed that the Qatari bid does not look like being successful, others will be happy.

"I think there will be confusion as to what happens next. Does this mean the end of the Glazers? In the short term, it looks not.

"Does it mean Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos bid will push towards getting control over Man Utd? I think a lot of fans would think that is better than having the Glazers in charge.

"Manchester United need capital to redevelop Old Trafford. The club needs a new direction, and the fans are unanimous about that.

"The fans are frustrated. People within the club are frustrated, a thousand people work for Manchester United, they want clarity over their future as well."

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