Manchester United

2023 - 2 - 17

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Qatar buying Manchester United would be a disaster – just look at ... (The Guardian)

Putting all but basic football competence aside, the cautious progress made under Erik ten Hag would be destroyed in an instant.

It is as though the engine crew of the Titanic have finally worked out how to stop this thing listing into the waves, only to be informed that their new captain is a horse in a top hat who has decided to set sail immediately for the nearest and sparkliest ice shelf. This was a comment made by Kylian Mbappé to Canal+ after the game, urging his teammates to eat and sleep properly before the return in Munich, taken as a public slap-down of Neymar, who seems unusually intent on having late-night parties at his house in Bougival. All of it confirming a sense of a sporting institution that is essentially a celebrity gossip mag made flesh (What Kiki Really Said To Ney!). Not to mention deeply uncomfortable for the Premier League, which has In which case the current, fragile little age of Erik may just come to look like its own brief shaft of light. But it was there in its many shades before, during and after the In the end none of this really seems to cut through. But the fact remains Qatar has made a mind-numbingly awful hash of running PSG in a way that would play specifically to United’s own vices and destroy in an instant the cautious progress made under Erik ten Hag. No doubt the relevant “fund” would build some really good bridges in Salford and generally machine-gun this thing with money. If this is what really counts then we do have a model of what being owned by Qatar looks like. We, the sovereign state of Qatar, are here to restore the lost soul of your prized social-sporting institutions. First the suggestion that Qatar really may have a serious interest in buying Manchester United, or at least enough interest to add its name to the list before Friday’s “soft” deadline.

Qatari Bank Chairman Submits Bid On Manchester United (Forbes)

A Bid For Manchester United Could Be Made As Early As Friday, Following 17 Years Under The Billionaire Glazer Family's Ownership.

They have also faced scrutiny for maintaining a significant debt, [estimated](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-united-glazers-debt-explained-b2145746.html) to be roughly $594.5 million last year, [sparking an outcry](https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/teams/manchester-united/epl-2022-manchester-united-glazer-family-owners-sale-debt-transfers-news-old-traffordd/news-story/6030ae79f2609f79262fa1076cde0299) from fans who [claim](https://news.sky.com/story/manchester-united-how-scavenger-glazers-bought-club-and-left-old-trafford-rusting-and-in-a-mess-12752952#:~:text=The%20Glazers'%20%C2%A3790m%20takeover,receiving%20dividends%20from%20the%20club.) the family has failed to invest in the club while it soaks up the [dividends](https://news.sky.com/story/manchester-united-how-scavenger-glazers-bought-club-and-left-old-trafford-rusting-and-in-a-mess-12752952#:~:text=The%20Glazers'%20%C2%A3790m%20takeover,receiving%20dividends%20from%20the%20club.) it makes from it. In addition to Manchester United, the family is also in control of more than 6.7 million square feet of shopping center space in the U.S, while Malcolm’s son Joel Glazer owns the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which his father purchased in 1995. Since then, it’s become the city’s second-best team, with Manchester City winning five times in the past eight seasons. [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/teams/manchester-united/?sh=6256c34613f9), making it the third most valuable professional soccer team in the world. [Manchester United: Billionaire Glazer Family May Sell Team After Years Of Fan Outrage, Reports Say ](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/22/manchester-united-billionaire-glazer-family-may-sell-team-after-years-of-fan-outrage-reports-say/?sh=44dd032a691c)(Forbes) [Cristiano Ronaldo Will Leave Manchester United By ‘Mutual Consent’](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/22/cristiano-ronaldo-will-leave-manchester-united-by-mutual-consent/?sh=656619a7de1e) (Forbes) [estimate](https://www.forbes.com/profile/glazer-1/?sh=62021ae615ec) the Glazer family’s net worth to be roughly $4.7 billion, split among the family after the death of Malcolm Glazer in 2014 at the age of 85. owners, the Glazer Family, do not have its best interests at heart. [multiple](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/manchested-united-sale-qatar-takeover-b2283417.html) [outlets](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manutd-sale-takeover-ratcliffe-elonmusk-29231563) reported the Raine Group, a financial firm for the Glazers, had been in conversations with a group of Qatari state investors about a potential sale. Its last championship, however, came in the 2012-2013 season, when the club defeated rival Liverpool. [parted ways](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/22/cristiano-ronaldo-will-leave-manchester-united-by-mutual-consent/?sh=656619a7de1e) with superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo after his high-profile falling out with team management, arguing in an explosive interview they “don’t care about the club.” The club announced in November it had cut ties with the 37-year-old by “mutual consent,” paving the way for Ronaldo—who had rejoined Manchester United in 2021 after playing nine years for Spanish club Real Madrid—to sign a record-breaking contract [estimated](https://www.espn.com/soccer/al-nassr/story/4849640/cristiano-ronaldo-has-no-clause-in-contract-to-support-saudi-world-cup-bid-al-nassr) to be worth roughly $75 million per year with the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. [reports](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/22/manchester-united-billionaire-glazer-family-may-sell-team-after-years-of-fan-outrage-reports-say/?sh=44dd032a691c) the Glazer family was considering a sale—shares have since leveled of slightly, to $26.33. [multiple](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64684703) [outlets](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12813127/manchester-united-takeover-qatari-sheikh-jassim-bin-hamad-al-thani-makes-substantial-bid-for-club) reported Friday—following years of complaints from fans who claim the English Premier League club’s billionaire U.S.

Britain's richest man and Qatar make rival offers for Man Utd in $8.75 ... (Fox Sports)

Britain's richest man and Qatar make rival offers for Man Utd in $8.75 billion bidding war.

As locally born, he wants to put the Manchester back into Manchester United.” Current United owners the Glazer family are hoping to receive at least five billion pounds ($8.75bn AUD) for the club they took full control of in 2015. United currently has debts running at more than $620 million USD. A source told The Telegraph: “His aim is to be a long-term custodian of Manchester United and set the standard for a progressive approach to club ownership. “The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world.” “The bid plans to return the club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and – above all – will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once more.

Qatari sheikh confirms 'debt-free' bid for Manchester United (Stuff.co.nz)

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, chairman of one of the gulf state's leading banks, promises to rid the EPL giants of debt and return the club to former ...

The chief executive of Tesla, Twitter and SpaceX wrote “I’m buying Manchester United ur welcome” last August. Ratcliffe, who currently owns French club Nice, said last year that he had no interest in another bid for a Premier League club after missing out on Chelsea and receiving little encouragement from the Glazers for United. Rival bids came from Chicago Cubs owner the Ricketts family, Boston Celtics part-owner Steve Pagliuca and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. That is a shift in strategy from last year when he launched a last-minute bid for Chelsea, but was not considered because he missed the deadline set by Raine, which also handled that sale. The announcement from Sheikh Jassim comes after growing speculation about interest from the gas and oil rich Qatar. [Elon Musk rumoured to be in the running to buy Manchester United](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/300807544/elon-musk-rumoured-to-be-in-the-running-to-buy-manchester-united?rm=a)

Son of ex-Qatari PM bids for Manchester United (Otago Daily Times)

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a son of Qatar's former prime minister, has launched a bid to buy Premier League football club Manchester United, ...

The Glazers bought United for £790 million in 2005 as part of a highly-leveraged deal. The club's current majority owners, the Glazer family, are seeking a valuation as high as £7 billion ($NZ13.4 billion), Reuters has previously reported. A deal for United is expected to shatter records for the sale of a sports business.

Son of former Qatari PM bids to buy Manchester United from Glazers (Financial Times)

A son of Qatar's former prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, one of the Gulf state's richest men, has submitted an offer for ...

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Manchester United takeover: Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al ... (Sky Sports)

The deadline to put in a bid for Manchester United passes at 10pm on Friday; Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani wants to restore Manchester United to their ...

This is somebody who has a lot of money and wants to buy Manchester United." "Because the Glazers are going, the fans will be happy. "Any new bidder needs to be fully supportive of inclusivity in football. "This will be an issue which divides Manchester United's fanbase, which is huge. "I'm also being told any profits that are made from him owning Manchester United he will put back into the club and the Nine Two Foundation. The value of the club has effectively doubled. "He is the chairman of one of the biggest banks in Qatar. Do they want to boost the profile of Qatar? "His vision for the club, I'm being told, is an emphasis on youth and also on putting money and investment into both the men's team and women's team. I'm being told he's a lifelong Manchester United supporter and that the club will be owned - if he wins the right to buy Man Utd - through a foundation called the Nine Two Foundation, named after the Class of 92. One insider says "if the Glazers don't get top, top dollar then they aren't going anywhere" but Sheikh Jassim is prepared to pay a world-record price for a sports club to buy Manchester United. He was formerly on the board of Credit Suisse.

Son of ex-Qatari PM bids for Manchester United (Otago Daily Times)

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a son of Qatar's former prime minister, has launched a bid to buy Premier League football club Manchester United, ...

Qatar-based bid for Manchester United confirmed on deadline day (Aljazeera.com)

The deal to buy Manchester United football club is expected to shatter records for the sale of a sport business.

The Glazers bought United for 790 million pounds ($951m) in 2005 as part of a highly-leveraged deal. They are widely seen as one of the most prized assets in all of sport. The initial deadline for bids expired on Friday.

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani confirms bid for Manchester United (The Guardian)

The chairman of a Qatari bank has joined the race to buy the Premier League club while Sir Jim Ratcliffe also made his bid for the club official.

More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops.” A Nine Two statement said: “Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani today confirmed his submission of a bid for 100% of Manchester United. Manchester United were the subject of an official bid of a minimum £4bn on Friday from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, the chairman of QIB, a Qatari bank.

Qatar bids for Manchester United after reported interest from Saudi ... (The Times of Israel)

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank, promises to rid iconic soccer club of debt and return it to former glory.

The CEO of Tesla, Twitter and SpaceX wrote “I’m buying Manchester United ur welcome” last August. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. Ratcliffe, who currently owns French club Nice, last year said he had no interest in another bid for a Premier League club after missing out on Chelsea and receiving little encouragement from the Glazers for United. Several Americans bid last year to buy Chelsea, with Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital eventually paying $3 billion for the London club. The announcement from Sheikh Jassim comes after growing speculation about interest from the gas and oil-rich Qatar. “We therefore have deep concern over some of the bids that are being made.

Former Qatari prime minister's son bids for Manchester United (CNBC)

Sheikh Jassim is the son of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who is one of the richest men in the Gulf state.

The Glazers bought United for 790 million pounds in 2005 as part of a highly-leveraged deal. The club's current majority owners, the Glazer family, are seeking a valuation as high as 7 billion pounds ($8.42 billion), Reuters has previously reported. A deal for United is expected to shatter records for the sale of a sports business.

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