Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani has submitted a fresh bid to buy English Premier League football club Manchester United, according to reports on Saturday.
The son of Qatar’s former prime minister and head of Qatar Islamic Bank made the new, improved offer after asking for an extension on Wednesday, which has since been granted. In doing so, Jassim hopes to complete the takeover, despite an amended bid from British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe himself and an amended bid from Finnish businessman Thomas Zilliacus.
Jassim was earlier offered debt-free last month during the first round of bidding, which was previously reported to be worth around $6.12 billion, although no financial details have been confirmed. If the bid goes through, it would make the acquisition of Manchester United, a club that has not won the Premier League since 2013, the most expensive sports team takeover in history.
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The Qatari sheikh was one of eight separate potential investors in the club. He has insisted that his interest is private and does not belong to the state, and that it will be funded through his Nine Two Foundation. His representatives visited Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium last week for talks. A statement from the foundation said it aims to return the club to its “former glory” and a source familiar with the earlier bid said. AFP that Jassim remains confident that his offer is “the best for the club, the fans and the local community”.
Manchester United’s current owners, US businessmen the Glazer brothers, announced last year that they were looking for “strategic alternatives” that could include selling the Premier League club outright. According to Sky Sportsthe owners are seeking a price of over $7 billion.
The potential takeover has divided Red Devils fans, with some voicing concerns over human rights issues and sports laundering, while others are hopeful that much-needed funds could revive the Premier League’s most successful team. prosperous England. Despite its greatest success on the pitch in recent years, Manchester United have been under siege in recent years by rivals and reigning champions Manchester City FC, owned by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, a member of UAE ruling family.
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