The Glazer family announced they were searching for ‘strategic alternatives’ for United in November and were open to a full or partial sale of the club as part of that process.
Since then, the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-owned Ineos company has formally declared its intention to enter the bidding process. Ratcliffe is a boyhood United fan, and Ineos also holds a one-third stake in the Mercedes F1 team and owns Ligue 1 side Nice.
Earlier this week, the Daily Mail reported that Qatari investors were planning a bid for United within days, although the Qatar Sports Investments (QSi) ownership of PSG is seen as a potential caveat in any talks. The Guardian revealed that the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, is a leading figure behind the plans.
However, according to The Athletic, Qatar ‘expects’ a consortium from Saudi Arabia to join the bidding race.
In an interview with BBC Sport during the World Cup, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister confirmed interest in United or Liverpool and said the state would support a private-sector bid if one was made.
Saudi interest in United has been ‘confirmed,’ and takeover candidates have now been revealed.
“From the private sector, I can’t speak on their behalf,” Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal said in December.
“It’s the most-watched league in Saudi and the region and you have a lot of fans of the Premier League.
“We will definitely support it if any [Saudi] private sector comes in because we know that’s going to reflect positively on sports within the kingdom. But if there’s an investor willing to do so and the numbers add up, why not?”
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail report that the Glazers have set a ‘soft deadline’ for offers of next Sunday, February 19, with five investors said to be in the race.
In addition, it is understood that multiple parties from Saudi Arabia, though not with any connections to the ownership of Newcastle, are amongst those to have signed confidentiality agreements with United to give them access to the club’s financial details. It is unclear, at this stage, whether they will submit a formal offer.
According to reports, Qatari investors have entered the race to buy Manchester United from the Glazer family, but they expect a bid from a Saudi Arabian consortium.
The Daily Mail has claimed that investors are planning to table a bid in the coming days, and are confident it will ‘blow the competition out of the water’.
Their only public competitor is Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos, which announced last month that it would enter the bidding process. Ratcliffe was born in Greater Manchester and grew up a Manchester United fan.
It is claimed that if the bid and takeover are successful, the investors will be willing to give manager Erik ten Hag substantial funds to spend on transfers.
The Qatari royal family attempted to buy United in 2011 but were unable to match the Glazers’ reported £1.8 million asking price.
Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) currently owns PSG in France, and two clubs owned by the same entity cannot compete in the same competition, such as the Champions League, despite the fact that the planned bid for United is said to come from separate investors.
According to one report, they may face stiff competition from Saudi Arabia.
Qatar expects Saudi competition for Manchester United.
According to a report in The Athletic last month, Qatar expects a Saudi consortium to emerge as a genuine contender to buy United, despite the fact that the Saudi Public Investment Fund owns fellow Premier League club Newcastle.
CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs has now corroborated this report. He also claims that any Qatari investors seeking to bid for United would seek the ‘blessing’ of QSI, which is said to have no direct involvement in any proposals.
During the World Cup, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister told BBC Sport that the government would support any private sector interest in either United or Liverpool.
He stated, ” “It’s [the Premier League] the most-watched league in Saudi Arabia and the region, and you have a lot of Premier League fans.
“We will definitely support it if any [Saudi] private sector comes in because we know it will benefit sports in the kingdom. However, if there is an investor willing to Why not if the numbers add up?”
PIF of Saudi Arabia bought an 80% stake in Newcastle in 2021 and has since spent heavily on transfers, including the club-record £63 million signing of Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad last summer.
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