A Sky Sports reporter has replied to the idea that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani may make another bid for Manchester United.
On Saturday, it was revealed that Qatari investor Sheikh Jassim had withdrawn from the United bid process, effectively ending an 11-month takeover dispute.
Instead, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a British petrochemicals tycoon, would pay £1.3 billion for a 25% stake in United, with the deal needing to be approved at a board meeting this week.
Sheikh Jassim’s offer, reportedly worth more than £5 billion, was thought to be the sole one for a 100% ownership in the club.
According to Sky Sports, Sheikh Jassim offered the Glazers nearly double the market capitalization as a cash buyer, offering to pay off all obligations. He would also purportedly have invested an additional £1.4 billion in the stadium and team.
However, the Qatari valuation appeared insufficient for United’s contentious American owners, the Glazer family, and Sheikh Jassim later withdrew from the process.
Despite having publicly withdrew from the process, it has been suggested that Sheikh Jassim could return to the Glazers with a revised offer.
Sky Sports Journalist Kaveh Solhekol, on the other hand, indicated that while he couldn’t rule out the Qatari re-entering the process, there was “no indication” that it was going to happen.
“At the moment, they’re telling us they’re out and that’s it,” Sky Sports’ Solhekol added, “but you can’t completely rule out a scenario where the Ratcliffe deal falls apart and Sheikh Jassim re-enters the process.”
“There’s no indication any of that’s going to happen right now, but Sheikh Jassim does have the finances to buy Manchester United at what he believes is a premium price.”
Meanwhile, Sheikh Jassim’s transfer guru Fabrizio Romano stated that he had no plans to reverse his decision to withdraw from the United takeover battle.
“Sources close to Sheikh Jassim guarantee that his decision to leave the negotiations for Man United is 100% guaranteed and confirmed,” Romano stated on X, the social networking platform once known as Twitter. There are currently no plans to change this.
“Glazers family, already informed last week after final bid rejected.”
As part of the arrangement to buy a 25% interest, Ratcliffe and his business INEOS are anticipated to handle United’s football operations.
The British investor initially intended to purchase the Glazers’ whole 67 percent stake.
