Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani's Qatari consortium will not make a fresh bid to buy Manchester United, despite reports that the Glazer family are again open to a sale. The group, which attempted a full takeover in 2023, remains 'scarred' by the experience and considers a new offer 'highly unlikely', according to Mail Online.
The Glazers had invited bids three years ago, but Sheikh Jassim's £6bn proposal was ultimately rejected. Instead, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS completed a partial takeover for around £1.3bn. Bloomberg recently reported that some Glazer family members are open to selling and are trying to persuade others to join them, sparking speculation about potential buyers.
However, sources close to the Qatari group indicate they have no intention of returning. A representative said in 2024: '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.'
Sheikh Jassim's 2023 bid had promised a debt-free takeover via his Nine Two Foundation, with plans to invest in the team, training centre, stadium, and fan experience. The bid aimed to restore the club to its former glories and place fans at its heart.
Meanwhile, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's tenure has faced criticism. His cost-cutting measures, including redundancies, have stabilised finances but angered supporters, while frequent managerial changes have added to the frustration.
