A family that owns a majority stake in Manchester United is weighing a pivotal decision: whether to sell part or all of the club, or to retain 69 percent of the property as things stand. The latest high-stakes bid comes from Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, head of BIQ, the Islamic Bank of Qatar, whose offer has captivated observers and pushed the market of sports club acquisitions to record levels. This marks a historic moment in football finance as potential buyers push beyond traditional benchmarks.
The offer circle includes a director from Qatar’s second-largest financial institution, often linked to the nation’s energy sector, placing a bid near 6,000 million euros for the purchase. If completed, this would stand as the largest payment ever for a team in professional sports and would redefine the contours of ownership in the Premier League.
Ratcliffe’s involvement
The sales process began in November, and the Glazer family appears to be navigating a delicate balance between maximizing value and ensuring a smooth transition. Observers in England have noted a strong appetite from abroad, including a sustained interest from the Al Thani family, though the path to closing remains legally intricate and time-consuming.
Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani is connected to Qatar’s ruling family; he is the son of Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who served as prime minister from 2007 to 2013, and a cousin to the emir’s father, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. If the deal goes through, it would mark a historic moment for the club. On the other hand, Jim Ratcliffe, the founder of the INEOS petrochemical group, has also entered the frame with a bid that reportedly tops 5,000 million, underscoring the intense competition to acquire one of football’s most valuable assets. These dynamics suggest a transition that could reshape ownership structures in European football for years to come. Source: Reuters and multiple industry briefings.