Sheikh Jassim is unlikely to join forces with Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the Glazers explore selling their stakes in Manchester United. The billionaire was the figurehead of a Qatari bid to buy the club in 2023, before Ratcliffe bought a minority stake and assumed control of football operations, with unpopular majority owners, the Glazers, staying on in a backseat role.
Background on Sheikh Jassim's Bid
Sheikh Jassim, a United fan, had reportedly tabled numerous bids, including an offer of around £4.5 billion before pulling out. In October last year, Mirror Football reported that the Glazers would only consider offers of more than £5 billion if they were to sell their stake in the club.
Current Developments
More than two years after offloading a minority stake to Ratcliffe, members of the Glazer family are weighing up whether to sell their stakes in the club, Bloomberg reports. The US business network said the initial talks centred on the potential sale of individual stakes and that some members had lobbied their siblings to follow suit.
Assuming Sheikh Jassim's stance hasn't changed, buying a minority stake in the club wouldn't interest him. It would also be hard to see him working with former takeover rival Ratcliffe, even as a majority owner.
Sheikh Jassim's Plans and Regret
Sheikh Jassim's decision to keep a low profile led to his very existence being questioned. Ratcliffe even weighed in, saying: "Nobody's ever seen him, actually. The Glazers never met him. I'm not sure he exists." But according to the Daily Mail, Sheikh Jassim had grand plans for the club, including clearing the debt, building a new, fully funded stadium, freezing ticket prices and increasing investment in the women's team. His group, it is claimed, would not have initiated the savage cost-cutting instigated by Ratcliffe's INEOS group.
A source told the Mail in 2024 that there was a tinge of regret from the Qatari group about not getting a deal over the line. They said: "In an ideal world, then maybe we paid a little more to get it done. But we had already done that on a number of occasions. We felt like we were being used and the goalposts continually changed. We felt like we had already gone above and beyond."
Recent Performance and Transfers
The heat on Ratcliffe has decreased a little over the last six months, while United have been going in the right direction on the pitch. Following the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January, which cost the club almost £17 million in compensation, Michael Carrick led a resurgence which saw United finish third and secure Champions League football. United's transfer dealings have also improved, with signings like Senne Lammens, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko enjoying positive seasons. United have already been proactive since the end of the season, with Brazilian midfielder Ederson on his way from Atalanta.
