Qatari Group, Sir Ratcliffe Battle For Man Utd Takeover

•Bids fall short of Glazers’ £6bn valuation

The battle for Manchester United’s takeover peaked on Friday deadline as the Qatari group led by Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS submitted their final offers to purchase the English Premiership side from the Glazer family.

Reports indicated that the Qatari group’s final bid in the region of over £5 billion offer was still well short of Glazers’ £6 billion valuation.

On its part, INEOS is said to have made an offer that will see it acquiring about 69 percent stake in the Old Trafford Landlords

The Qatari banker submitted his final offer before Friday’s deadline, a source close to the Nine Two foundation revealed

According to The Times‘ reports earlier in the day, this offer would be in the region of £5 billion, although this has not been confirmed by the necessary parties.

Sheikh Jassim made his first bid to buy United in February and his foundation have always stated they are only interested in a full takeover, pledging that they would make the club debt free.

This promise remains as the group consider a full, debt-free takeover to be the best option for club, fans and wider community. Also, their proposal includes an investment plan of both capital and infrastructure that will be injected into the club directly.

As at the Friday’s deadline, information had emerged that fully focused on seeing off his interest in taking control of United, the Qatari banker submitted a third and final offer for the Red Devils, said to be worth up to £5.5 billion to tempt the Glazers to sell the club.

For Ratcliffe’s INEOS group, which is the Qatari’s main rival to buy United, their meeting with United officials that took place way back in February, showed interest in purchasing a maximum stake of 65 percent.

The initial proposal was to have the petrochemicals firm buy only a smaller stake from the Glazers, enabling the American family to retain control of the Red Devils.

But The Independent later reported that another option INEOS had considered was to offer a 20 percent stake to Avram and Joel Glazer with Ratcliffe enjoying complete control of the club.

While the valuation and ownership balance is currently unknown, reports had widely circulated that INEOS also successfully submitted their final bid offer before Friday’s deadline.

Reports had emerged on Thursday that the Glazer family are holding out for £6 billion to sell the club outright, and if their valuation is not met they will rather sell a smaller stake to a United States (US) private equity firm.

Amid the takeover battle, United fan groups have criticised the prospect of the Glazers remaining within the set-up and are already organising a mass protest outside Old Trafford before the Premier League match against Aston Villa slated for Sunday, April 30, 2023.

This includes not entering the stadium until the 18th minute, marking the number of years the family have owned the club.

After both groups met the 10 pm Friday deadline set by The Raine Group, the understanding is that the decision now remains with United’s sellers with reports suggesting that the Glazer family could select their successor as early as next week.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils are touted to be planning a blockbuster move for Brazilian international, Neymar move if Glazers sell club to Qataris

Reports said Sheikh Jassim’s entourage is already sounding out their fellow Qatari owners of PSG in an attempt to land the injury-prone Neymar as the new face of United in a major statement come summer.

Neymar’s contract at Parc des Princes runs through 2025, so United will probably have to spend heavily in order to sign the winger. If the takeover happens, though, finances should not be a problem for the new owners when that happens.