Man United takeover: Who is Sheikh Jassim and what is his net worth?

The Manchester United takeover saga continues to rumble on, with Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani submitting his latest bid on Wednesday afternoon and setting Friday as a deadline.

The Qatari businessman remains one of two contenders in the battle to buy the Old Trafford club, matching British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe in a story that has now stretched for several months.

However, in a major power grab to seize control of the Premier League giants, Sheikh Jassim submitted the bid directly to the club’s owners, the Glazer family and Raine Group, the US bankers who are leading the long-running saga.

Mail Sport understands that the sheikh has also told those involved that he will participate until Friday. After that, the offer will stand, but no further negotiations will take place.

But who exactly is the Qatari banker? What is his net worth? And has he now overtaken Ratcliffe in the race to buy Manchester United?

Who exactly is Sheikh Jassim?

Sheikh Jassim is the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) and is also a member of the Qatari royal family. He spent much of his childhood in the United Kingdom, attending school in Dorset before studying at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.

Jassim would graduate as an officer cadet and later become a board member at one of the world’s largest investment banks, Credit Suisse, before becoming a banker himself.

That’s where the details around Jassim get fuzzy. In fact, for someone who could soon own one of the most famous faces in football, the lack of public knowledge about Sheikh Jassim is surprising.

However, much more is known about his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, nicknamed both ‘HBJ’ and ‘the man who bought London’.

HBJ, who served as Prime Minister of Qatar between 2007 and 2013, gave £2.6 million in cash to King Charles in several face-to-face meetings, delivered in several suitcases, an overnight bag and in Fortnum & Mason carrier bags.

This money went to charity, with the transfers being very legal.

HBJ was also involved in running Paris Saint-Germain, as a former chairman of the Qatari Investment Authority (QIA). The QIA owns the Qatar Sports Authority (QSA), which owns PSG.

While UEFA won’t allow an individual or entity to own more than one club in the same league, Sheikh Jassim making sure he’s independent from the QIA – and therefore PSG – theoretically solves that problem.

On a personal level, Sheikh Jassim is believed to be a lifelong fan of Manchester United. He is reported to wear the club’s shirt during weekly five-a-side matches and has attended numerous matches as a supporter.

However, only one photo shows Jassim in a United shirt and a spokesperson for his bid was unable to “confirm its authenticity”. His Nine Two Foundation, set up to complete the takeover of United, is in fact a reference to the side’s famous Class of 92 squad.

Importantly, Jassim, who vows to restore ‘former glory on and off the pitch’, has ‘considerable’ extra money to spend on players and modernizing Old Trafford on top of the money he plans to use to help the club. to buy.

What is Sheikh Jassim Net Worth?

This is not the easiest question to answer. As mentioned, we don’t have an extensive catalog of Sheikh Jassim information to play with.

His father, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, has said Forbes.

Meanwhile, his family is believed to have a combined worth of around £275 billion.

And the head of the royal family – Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani – alone is said to be worth around £1.6 billion.

What is the latest news on the sale of Manchester United?

Sheikj Jassim’s latest bid is his fifth since Mail Sport revealed details of the first in February. It remains for total control of the club and is believed to include a significant amount of investment in infrastructure and recruitment.

Sheikh Jassim’s competitor, British petrochemical billionaire Ratcliffe, is said to have taken a lead in the process. It now remains to be seen whether the latest high-stakes move is enough to convince the Glazers to part ways with the club.

The Glazers are believed to value United at £6bn – and the bid, while improved, falls short of that figure, which many consider bizarre.

Meanwhile, Ratcliffe’s bid is for a majority of the club and has the potential for the Glazers to stay involved for a period of time.

There is growing frustration over how long the sale is taking, especially given the approaching opening of the transfer window. The trial originally began in November last year.

It is clear that the need to strengthen Erik ten Hag’s squad played a major role in the sheikh’s last and final step. He is eager to complete the takeover and provide the Dutch manager with significant resources for the new season.

What has Sheikh Jassim said about buying Man Utd?

Sheikh Jassim laid out his plans for Manchester United in February, when he outlined his intentions to buy the club.

Crucially, Sheikh Jassim insists that he will ensure the club is completely debt free while pledging to invest in all areas of the club.

A released statement read: “Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani today confirmed his submission of a bid for 100 per cent of Manchester United Football Club.

“The offer intends to return the club to its former glory, both on and off the pitch, and will above all try to put fans back at the heart of Manchester United Football Club.

The offer will be completely debt free through Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation, which will seek to invest in the football teams, training centre, stadium and wider infrastructure, fan experience and communities the club supports.

“The vision of the offer is that Manchester United Football Club is renowned for its excellent football and is regarded as the greatest football club in the world.

“More details about the offer will be released, as appropriate, as and when the bidding process develops.”