Sir Jim Ratcliffe joins Qataris in race to buy Manchester United
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s firm INEOS has submitted a bid for Manchester United, Sky News understands.
It comes after the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) confirmed that he had put in his own offer for the club.
A source described Sir Jim’s bid as a “British bid to make the club a beacon for a modern, progressive, fan-centred approach to ownership.”
The billionaire, one of Britain’s richest people, has never made any secret of his desire to buy the club. He supported United as a boy and is understood to remain a fan.
He also owns cycling team Ineos Grenadiers, Ligue 1 side Nice, who he took over in 2019, and FC Lausanne-Sport, a Swiss Super League club.
Manchester United’s current owners, the Glazer family, had set a “soft” deadline of 10pm on Friday night.
In a statement, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, who is heading the Qatari attempt “confirmed a submission for a bid for 100% of Manchester United Football Club”.
The statement added: “The bid plans to return the club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and above all will seek to put fans at the heart of the football club once more.”
“The bid will be 100% debt-free, via Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and the wider infrastructure.”
The Nine Two Foundation is a new financial entity set up to privately fund the bid.
Sheikh Jassim, whose father Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani is a former prime minister of Qatar, was educated in Britain at Sandhurst military academy, he graduated as an officer cadet and has been chairman at QIB, as well as having roles at other clubs. Born in 1982, Sheikh Jassim says he has been a lifelong Manchester United fan.
The Glazer family, who took over the club in 2005 and who are widely disliked by fans, announced in November that they would put Manchester United up for sale.
There is believed to be interest in the club from four quarters: Sir Jim; Sheikh Jassim; US-based Josh Harris and David Blitzer, who attempted to buy Chelsea; and from Saudi Arabia. The bids from Saudi Arabia and Qatar are expected to be the only ones that would not rely on borrowed money.
The Raine Group based in New York is marketing the club’s sale and will be ensuring that any bids for the club are backed by solid financial foundations.
If the QIB bid is successful Manchester United would become the third Premier League club to have Gulf owners, joining Manchester City (UAE) and Newcastle (Saudi Arabia). In France, Paris St Germain are owned by the Qatari sovereign wealth fund.
Who is behind the QIB bid?
The name of the Qatari behind the takeover bid for Manchester United wouldn’t be immediately familiar to fans.
But Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani’s father has been prominent in London investments for years as a former prime minister of Qatar.
Luxury Mayfair hotels the Connaught and Claridge’s are under the ownership of Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani – whose family’s involvement in the United bid was revealed earlier by Sky News ahead of the official announcement.
Known as HBJ, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim is also a shareholder in Deutsche Bank.
His son, Sheikh Jassim is chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank which was established in 1982 – the year of his birth.
Sky News has been told that a buyout of United would be funded through the Sandhurst graduate’s private wealth via a new entity the Nine Two Foundation.
That appears a nod to the Class of 92 – the generation of youth players including David Beckham who were behind the club’s dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson.
It is the former glories fans will hope any new ownership can provide. It’s been a decade since United won the Premier League as Sir Alex retired.
In that time Gulf investment from Abu Dhabi has transformed Manchester City into the country’s dominant footballing force.
United fans crave cash being pumped into the team and spending on the Old Trafford stadium after bemoaning years of underinvestment under the Glazers.
Whether the Glazers accept the Qatari offer or any other – and how much it will take – remains to be seen.
Two women have died following reports of a stabbing in Milton Keynes on Christmas Day, police have said.
A dog injured in the incident in Bletchley also died after being taken to the vets.
A man and a teenage boy suffered serious injuries.
A 49-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and remains in custody.
Forensic officers at the scene. Pics: PA
Officers were called to a block of apartments in Santa Cruz Avenue just after 6.30pm on Christmas Day following reports of a stabbing.
The two women, aged 38 and 24, died at the scene, Thames Valley Police said. Their next of kin have been informed.
The injured man and teenage boy were taken to hospital and are both in a stable condition.
Police said the parties are known to each other.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin said: “Firstly I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families of the women who have tragically died in this shocking incident.
“We have launched a double murder investigation, which may be concerning to the wider public; however, we have made an arrest and are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident and the parties are known to each other.”
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