Manchester United Takeover: Manchester United SALE – The Qatari Sheikh Jassim who previously did not like the idea of breaking the bank for the takeover of Manchester United is now ‘willing to overpay’ for the club with a figure close to £6 billion, as Qatari bidders paid a visit to Old Trafford. A high level of representatives of Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani toured Manchester United before being sitting down for presentations at United’s Carrington training complex. Follow Premier League LIVE Updates on Insidesport.IN
Manchester United Takeover: Manchester United SALE takes new Avenues, Qatar willing to OVERPAY to acquire Premier League Giants – Check Out
The Qataris are ready to overpay to buy Manchester United. [@SkyKaveh]
— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) March 17, 2023
Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol gives an update on the Qatari consortium’s bidding for Manchester United’s ownership, as the party has now taken a different stance after initially decided not to overpay. The journalist informs, ‘If the Glazers are serious about selling Manchester United, I think the club could change hands by the end of the season, before the transfer window opens in the summer.’
‘If it was just down to money, you would think the Qataris would be able to outbid anyone. I’ve been told previously the Qataris were going to be sensible and not overpay wildly for Manchester United.
Manchester United Takeover: Manchester United SALE takes new Avenues, Qatar willing to OVERPAY to acquire Premier League Giants – Check Out
But in the last couple of days, the mood music has changed a little bit. And I’m being told the Qataris really want to buy Manchester United and they are willing to overpay. But I think anybody who buys the club will have to do that – because the Glazers are asking for about £6bn.’
The Qatari delegation traveled to Manchester from London via train on Thursday and received a warm welcome. It is understood that strong, extensive, and positive talks lasted for around 10 hours as Sheikh Jassim now has around 10 days to make a second bid in order to take control of United.
The members of the Qatari delegation included Shahzad Shahbaz, president of the Nine Two Foundation set up by the Sheikh to take over United, and Fady Bakhos, the Sheikh’s senior personal advisor. Moreover, Sam Powers, global head of technology, media and telecoms at Bank of America, and Yasir Shah, a managing director with the same company which is helping with the financial element of the Qatar-based bid.
However, Sheikh Jassim was not present for the talks, which concluded at around 7.20 p.m.
Manchester United Takeover: Manchester United SALE takes new Avenues, Qatar willing to OVERPAY to acquire Premier League Giants – Check Out
On the other hand, Unlike Sheikh Jassim, their rival bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe visited Manchester on Friday, alongside INOES sport representatives, as he was pictured outside Old Trafford.
Solhekol said, ‘It’s an interesting contrast with Sheikh Jassim. Sir Jim was happy to be filmed and photographed, and it was significant that Richard Arnold was there to greet him when he arrived, shaking his hand and being photographed then too.’
‘It gives you another sense that maybe the Glazers are serious about selling Man Utd. This was a high-powered delegation from INEOS, he was there with the two co-owners, Andy Currie and John Reece. Sir Dave Brailsford, who used to be the director of cycling at Team Sky – he’s now INEOS’ director of sport and he was there too.’
As the thing stands, Ratcliffe’s group wants hold of the majority of the stake at the club, while, Sheikh Jassim wants 100 percent of the club and has promised to clear the historic debt from the Glazer’s leveraged buyout.
