Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jaber Al Thani, chairman of one of Qatar’s biggest banks, has confirmed that he has lodged a bid to buy Manchester United.
The announcement came just before the deadline of February 17, set by Raine Group, who are managing the sale of the club.
In a statement, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani said that his bid plans to return Manchester United to its former glories both on and off the pitch. The bid also aims to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once more. The Sheikh has promised that the bid will be completely debt-free, via his Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training center, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience, and the communities the Club supports.
The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence and to be regarded as the greatest football club in the world. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jaber Al Thani’s statement has generated a lot of buzz among fans of the club, who are hoping that the Sheikh’s bid will succeed in restoring the team’s glory days.
It is not yet known how much Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jaber Al Thani has bid for the club, but it is believed that the Glazer family, who currently own Manchester United, are hoping to receive at least $6bn for their sale of the club. Sources close to the sale have speculated that the figure could rise as high as $10bn, depending on the level of formal interest ahead of the deadline.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jaber Al Thani’s bid is expected to face competition from other interested parties, including British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and other potential buyers in the United States and across Asia.
Manchester United is one of the most valuable football clubs in the world, and whoever takes ownership of the club will have a significant influence over the future of football in Europe and beyond.
More details of the bid will be released when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops. Manchester United fans are eagerly awaiting news of the club’s sale, hoping that the Sheikh’s bid will be the one to take the club forward into a new era of success.
