Manchester United supporters can now take a sigh of relief as their ownership limbo is reportedly coming to an end. David Beckham, the Manchester United icon, also showed interest in a possible takeover of the club. Beckham agreed that there needs to be a change in ownership. After the Glazers announced that the club was seeking ‘strategic investments’ last November, it has been a long and winding road that has brought us here.
Manchester United supporters have been protesting against the Glazers for almost a decade, with the movement picking traction in recent years. The bad management of players and the poor infrastructure have left supporters and fans in dismay begging for a change in ownership.
A change of ownership is on the horizon for Manchester United
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Since putting the club for sale last November, there has been a constant struggle to get the Glazers to finalize a deal, with almost HBO’s Succesion-like dynamics at play between the brothers. The United supporters wanted no part of Glazers and wanted them to be out completely. There was interest from English billionaire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his consortium, INEOS, who were willing to keep the Glazers on. The other bid was from the Qataris, particularly Sheikh Jassim, who is reportedly now finalizing the deal for a sum amounting to $7,650,000,000 and an announcement could be made next month, as per The Sun.
The possibility of an extraordinary deal exceeding $6 billion for Manchester United is on the horizon, potentially marking one of the most significant transactions in the realm of sports. This valuation notably outpaces the $3.1 billion acquisition of Chelsea Football Club by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. This firmly establishes Manchester United at a considerable premium, with a sharp focus on its value-to-revenue ratio. Should this valuation come to fruition, it would elevate the club’s worth to over 10 times its annual revenue from the previous year.
In early 2023, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani submitted rival bids for a takeover, followed by US hedge fund Elliott Management’s investment proposal. The Glazers’ $7 billion valuation isn’t met then, leading to divisions. By March, Sheikh Jassim, Ratcliffe, and an unnamed bidder advance. In April, Sheikh Jassim’s world-record bid and Ratcliffe’s offer emerged. Sheikh Jassim continues with improved bids in May and June, while INEOS proposes a partial acquisition. The dynamic process continues to unfold. Meanwhile, there have also been reports that PSG’s president Nasser Al Khelafi has also played a part in the takeover by Sheikh Jassim. Let’s dive more into it.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s involvement in Sheikh Jassim’s United takeover
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PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi played a medium between the Glazers and Sheikh Jassim. At the time of the bidding wars between Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim, Glazers called up the PSG president requesting him to pursue Sheikh Jassim in increasing his bid offer, as per Goal. It was hugely believed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe would eventually win the bidding war as he was also in favor of giving minority stakes to the Glazers.
There are huge concerns among Premier League club owners citing the takeover of a top-flight English club by Qatari investment. Their concerns hugely reside with the fact that this deal would allow Manchester United to come under Qatar’s state ownership. The deal can also see many investigations launched into United.
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Watch this story: Soccer Icon David Beckham Teases Dwayne Johnson’s $3.5 Billion Teremana As He Enjoys a Few Drinks in Miami
Manchester United supporters will look for the deal to be completed as soon as possible. Having to endure 18 years of Glazers management has left a husk of a club that once was. Who do you think Manchester United should sign next? Let us know in the comments.