Sheikh Jassim is unlikely to partner with Sir Jim Ratcliffe as some members of the Glazer family reportedly consider selling their holdings in Manchester United. The Qatari billionaire, who bid for full control of the club in 2023, withdrew after the Glazers opted for Ratcliffe's minority stake purchase.
According to Bloomberg, the Glazers are in preliminary discussions about potentially offloading individual shares, with some family members encouraging others to do the same. However, Sheikh Jassim's stance remains unchanged: he sought a full takeover, not a minority stake, making collaboration with Ratcliffe improbable.
Sheikh Jassim's low profile led Ratcliffe to question his existence, remarking: "Nobody's ever seen him, actually. The Glazers never met him. I'm not sure he exists." Yet, the Daily Mail reported that Jassim had ambitious plans, including debt clearance, a new stadium, frozen ticket prices, and increased investment in the women's team, avoiding the cost-cutting measures introduced by Ratcliffe's INEOS.
A source close to the Qatari group expressed regret over the failed deal, stating: "In an ideal world, then maybe we paid a little more to get it done. But we felt like we were being used and the goalposts continually changed."
Meanwhile, Ratcliffe has faced reduced pressure as Manchester United improved on the pitch, securing third place and Champions League football under Michael Carrick. The club has also strengthened recruitment with signings like Senne Lammens, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, and Ederson is set to join from Atalanta.
