A consortium led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, president of the Islamic Bank of Qatar (QIB), announced this Friday that it had submitted an offer to acquire Manchester United, a club in the English Premier League where the Portuguese Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot play. .
“Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani today confirmed his submission of a bid for 100 per cent of Manchester United Football Club,” he said in a press release.
The statement gave no details on the value proposed in the offer by the club, but the price could reach a record 6 billion euros, according to reports.
“Further tender details will be released, where appropriate, if and when the tender process develops,” the statement reads, adding that the tender “will be completely debt-free” through Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation.
“(He) will look to invest in the football teams, training centre, stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the club supports.
“The proposal plans to return the club to its former glories on and off the pitch and, above all, will seek to put supporters at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once again,” the statement continued.
“The aim of this offer is for Manchester United Football Club to be known for excellence in football and considered to be the greatest football club in the world.”
If confirmed, it will be the biggest ever purchase amount for a football club, surpassing the 4.970 billion that the American tycoon Todd Boehly paid for Chelsea.
The Glazer family, current owners of the Old Trafford club, have announced that they are interested in selling the club, stipulating a price of around £6 billion at the end of last year. The Americans, remember, bought Manchester United in 2005 in exchange for 740 million pounds.
But this Qatari group is not the only one in the running. According to the English press, British millionaire Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of the INEOS Group and a fan of the team, will also be gathering a group of investors to come up with an offer.
Elon Musk, who recently acquired the social network Twitter, has also been named as one of those interested.
