MANCHESTER UNITED fans were in a sombre mood this morning after learning the Glazers had snubbed a £5billion takeover offer from Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim.
Last night it was revealed the Glazers would be sticking around at Old Trafford after REJECTING Sheikh Jassim’s latest takeover offer in favour of selling a minority stake to Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Sheikh Jassim is believed to have made a new sixth offer worth more than £6bn in total, including cash to redevelop the facilities, fund an Old Trafford rebuild and to clear the existing debt against the club.
However, with the Glazers turning down this offer, the Qatari bid was withdrawn after accusing the family of demanding an “outlandish” price to sell.
Instead, the Glazers have given the green light for INEOS director Ratcliffe to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club.
United bosses are set to sign off on Ratcliffe’s investment at a board meeting later this week.
Red Devils fans have been desperate for the club’s hated Glazer family owners to depart, and had hoped to see the back of them after they announced they were open to a sale last November.
Upon hearing the news, one fan wrote: “We are genuinely finished.”
A second said: “The Beginning of the end.”
A third commented: “RIP Manchester United.”
Another fan said: “Officially finished with club football for good.”
Ratcliffe’s investment is reported to be the first step towards a gradual takeover which will see the Glazers eventually depart.
And some fans chose to have optimism this would be the case, with one fan saying: “The only way I can properly stomach this is if there is a proper road map to a full takeover. The Glazers have to go.”
A second remarked: “Fairs to Ratcliffe. I just hope he can do the full takeover within the next two years.”
Sheikh Jassim had been the front-runner for much of 2023.
He continued to be interested even though frustrations grew over the conduct of the Glazers and their bankers, the US-based Raine Group.
The Qatari has only ever wanted to buy the club outright from the Glazers, who have been in charge of United since the siblings’ late father Malcolm took it over in a £790m deal in 2005.
