Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim submits final bid for Manchester United
Sheikh Jassim’s offer will net the owners an undisclosed amount of money and an additional investment directly into the club.
Doha, Qatar – Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has made his third and final bid to buy Manchester United football club, his representatives told Al Jazeera.
Jassim’s bid was submitted before the Friday night (21:00 GMT) deadline set by the current owners of the club, the Glazer family of the United States.
“We can confirm that Sheikh Jassim has submitted his latest bid for MUFC,” his representatives told Al Jazeera on Saturday.
Jassim is the chairman of a leading Qatari bank and the son of a former Qatari prime minister.
The lifelong United fan’s “debt-free bid”, first submitted in February, seeks full ownership of the club.
His reps said Jassim’s proposal not only offers an undisclosed sum to buy the club – money that would go to the sellers – but also includes “a plan to invest another significant amount of additional capital and infrastructure investment directly into the club” . [not to the sellers]”.
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe was the only party to make a bid before Friday’s deadline, according to a report by British state broadcaster BBC.
Ratcliffe, founder and head of the INEOS chemicals conglomerate, is reportedly aiming for 69 per cent ownership of the club, the same percentage owned by the Glazers.
The Qatari businessman’s bid was submitted through his Nine Two Foundation and promised a bright future for the club if successful, including “investments in the football teams, training centre, stadium and wider infrastructure, fan experience and communities .” the club supports”.
By proposing to take over, Jassim “intends to return the club to its former glory, both on and off the pitch”.
‘Pray reflects Qatar’s ambition’
Jassim’s bid comes as no surprise to pundits, who say it is in line with his country’s ambition to be seen as a sporting powerhouse.
His interest in Manchester United suggests that Qatar is embarking on the next phase of its ambition, according to Ross Griffin, an assistant professor at the University of Qatar whose research interests include the portrayal of the Arab world in Western media and the relationship between sport and include postcolonial society. .
“Qatar’s ambition [in sport] falls into two branches,” he said.
“The first branch will continue to focus on hosting sporting events in Qatar, such as the Asian Cup in 2024 and the Asian Games in 2030, while the possible purchase of a Premier League football club is part of the second branch.”
The Glazers announced plans to sell the club last November and the bidding process began in February. They are reportedly looking to sell for £6 billion ($7.5 million), a record amount for a sports club.
Jassim representatives said “it is now time for the sellers to make a decision on how to proceed” with the bidding process.
The Glazers have not confirmed when the process will be finalized or if the club will change hands at all.