Sheikh Jassim is unlikely to join forces with Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the Glazer family explores selling their stakes in Manchester United, according to reports. The Qatari billionaire, who led a bid to buy the club in 2023, had tabled offers of around £4.5 billion before pulling out, and his stance on a full takeover remains unchanged.
The Glazers, who have been majority owners since 2005, are weighing up whether to sell their individual stakes, Bloomberg reports. Initial talks have centred on potential sales, with some family members lobbying others to follow suit. In October last year, Mirror Football reported that the Glazers would only consider offers of more than £5 billion.
Sheikh Jassim's grand plans for the club included clearing debt, building a new fully funded stadium, freezing ticket prices, and increasing investment in the women's team. His group would not have initiated the cost-cutting measures instigated by Ratcliffe's INEOS group, a source told the Daily Mail in 2024.
Ratcliffe, who bought a minority stake and assumed control of football operations, had previously questioned Sheikh Jassim's existence, saying: "Nobody's ever seen him, actually. The Glazers never met him. I'm not sure he exists."
On the pitch, Manchester United have improved, finishing third and securing Champions League football under Michael Carrick after Ruben Amorim's sacking. Transfer dealings have also strengthened, with signings like Senne Lammens, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko enjoying positive seasons.
