The race for the ownership of Manchester United is heating up, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos co-owners visiting Old Trafford for a VIP tour today. This comes after Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a member of Qatar’s ruling royal family, made a bid for the club believed to be below the Glazers’ asking price of £6 billion.
Despite Al Thani’s bid reportedly worth £5 billion, the Gulf state royal is promising to clear the club’s debt and fund upgrades for both Old Trafford and Carrington. However, Ratcliffe, one of Britain’s wealthiest men, is not one to be outdone.
As a locally-born United supporter, Ratcliffe, 70, has pledged to put “Manchester back into Manchester United” with a “British bid to make the club a beacon for a modern, progressive, fan-centred approach to ownership.” Today, he and his co-owners, Andy Currie and John Reece, along with Ineos Sport chair Rob Nevin, got a glimpse of what they could soon own.
The VIP tour of Old Trafford was a chance for Ratcliffe and his team to see first-hand what could become the crown jewel of their ever-expanding empire. With the club’s immense history and global appeal, a successful takeover bid would not only add to Ineos’ already impressive portfolio but could also see Manchester United return to its former glory on and off the pitch.
As the takeover saga continues to unfold, fans of the club are eagerly anticipating the outcome. Will it be Al Thani’s bid or Ratcliffe’s “fan-centred approach” that wins the day? Only time will tell.
Photo Credit: Eamonn and James Clarke
