Sir Jim Ratcliffe insists he ‘cannot contemplate failure’ if he is chosen to take over Manchester United with the billionaire still in talks to buy the club from the Glazers

Manchester United bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe insists he ‘cannot contemplate failure’ if selected to buy the club – as the Old Trafford takeover saga continues.

The British billionaire, who heads the INEOS group, is one of two contenders to take over the Red Devils from the Glazer brothers Avram and Joel – who have been in charge since 2005 – alongside the Qatari Sheik Jassim. region of £5 billion.

But the takeover hit a snag in recent weeks after Mail Sport reported the Glazers were taking the club off the market, causing United’s share price to plummet 21 percent at one point as the New York Stock Exchange responded to the report.

However, news later emerged that the two bidders had not been informed that the sale had fallen through, with those close to the process claiming nothing had changed.

Both bids are well below the Glazers’ valuation. Negotiations are believed to be ongoing and Ratcliffe – Britain’s richest man – has spoken out about his possible plans for the club should he be successful.

Manchester United’s takeover saga rumbles on – with the club’s share price suffering a record £600m fall following a report that the Glazers (pictured) could abandon the sale

Both Ratcliffe and fellow frontrunner Sheikh Jassim have not been informed that the sale will not go ahead

The club’s supporters have been involved in protests against the Glazers over their management of the club in recent years. The news that they could withdraw from the sale only heightened tensions as the Red Devils continue their battle to return the club to its former glory. .

To talk with The INEOS YouTube channelRatcliffe said he could not imagine failing at a club like United, saying it would be ‘painful and unbearable’.

‘Manchester United’s bid would have been unthinkable two or three years ago if we hadn’t had some of these experiences. Quite a few of them were quite difficult experiences with Lausanne and Nice,” he said.

“You can’t really think about taking over a brand like Manchester United and failing because the failure is just far too public and unbearable, the failure of a deal like that.”

The club’s owners announced last November that they would explore investment options, but the slow pace of negotiations has left fans frustrated

The American owners announced last November that they would explore investment options, including the prospect of a full sale.

But lengthy delays in talks and the slow pace of negotiations have led to enormous frustration among impatient fans and pundits associated with the club.

One source believes the logic in taking United off the market now is that the family will look to sell again in 2025, when they hope they can attract more bidders.

Legendary defender Gary Neville accused the Glazers of using United as ‘toys’. However, he still claimed they would eventually be sold as he targeted the pair after United’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal this month.

United supporters recently staged a sit-in protest in an attempt to convince the Glazers to sell

‘To them it’s just a game, they think it’s a toy!’ Neville ranted over the last edition of his Sky podcast. ‘Of course they’re going to sell. They are desperate for money.

‘They can’t even compete on FFP (Financial Fair Play) anymore. Man Utd talk like a mid-table club when it comes to the transfer market. Man Utd has a turnover of £500 million, one of the highest turnover clubs in the world.

‘Chelsea, Arsenal can sign big players, Man Utd are scrambling around on FFP. I know they made losses on Covid and that could be used as an excuse.

“Today was a fantastic match, but that doesn’t change the fact that they have owners of one of the biggest clubs in the world messing with the football club, and I won’t keep talking about it because that’s the way it is. a huge problem.’