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Qatari royal Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani is reportedly still hopeful of owning Manchester United in future, despite losing out to Sir Jim Ratcliffe last year.
Sheikh Jassim emerged as a contender to purchase United after the Glazers announced they were looking for strategic alternatives, including a full or partial sale of the club.
Throughout 2023, Sheikh Jassim battled against Ratcliffe to become the next custodian of the Red Devils. Sheikh Jassim proposed a full buyout, which would have ended the Glazers’ ownership entirely. Ratcliffe, who initially pursued a complete takeover as well, later shifted his approach and expressed a willingness to let the Glazers remain as majority stakeholders.
Ratcliffe eventually won the race, with his minority bid valuing United more than Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation investment vehicle.
Ratcliffe’s minority stake was ratified by the Premier League in February 2024 and as part of his deal with the Glazers, the INEOS billionaire assumed operational control of United.
However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing since. Ratcliffe has come under intense criticism from a section of the fanbase for his perceived brutal spending cuts including making hundreds of staff redundant and hiking ticket prices.
Ratcliffe has not been immune to fan protests, and a previous report covered by The Peoples Person suggested that the 72-year-old may have skipped United’s final Premier League game of the season due to planned demonstrations targeting the ownership group.
Earlier this year, Ratcliffe told the media that if he were to face the same level of hostility as the Glazer family, he would consider walking away from United. And now, a new report from The Telegraph has revealed that Sheikh Jassim and Qatar still think they can take over United one day.
According to the newspaper, “Despite their withdrawal from the bidding process in October 2023, the indication from Qatar is that Jassim and those around him have not abandoned the hope of owning United.”
“They still believe that one day the opportunity may present itself and nothing that has happened since the deal between the Glazers and Ratcliffe has diminished that.”
The Telegraph add, “The details of the Glazers’ deal with Ratcliffe does include a provision for the Glazers to sell the club out from under their junior partner – although Ratcliffe has the right to make a first offer on any share sale.”
For now, United’s full attention is on the summer transfer window and backing Ruben Amorim in a bid to be competitive in the 2025/26 campaign.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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