Man Utd takeover bidders given firm warning after releasing statements about plans for club
POTENTIAL bidders for Manchester United have allegedly been issued a warning to stop their public campaigns potentially damaging the Glazer family.
The current owners are looking to sell the club and are supposedly demanding £6billion for the Red Devils.
One of Britain’s richest men Sir Jim Ratcliffe and chairman of the Qatar Islamic Bank, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, have both tabled offers.
Ratcliffe, who also owns French side Nice, is a boyhood Man Utd fan and made his money via chemical company INEOS.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Jassim has pledged to get rid of debts but would need to prove he is not linked to the Qatari owners of Paris Saint-Germain or the teams may not be able to play in the same European competitions.
Any deal that happens will be overseen by US bank Raine, who took control of the £2.5billion sale of Chelsea to Todd Boehly last May.
However, The Times has claimed that Raine has moved to “firmly remind bidders that the process is meant to be private” and warned them against making remarks that reflect badly on the Glazers.
The Qatar bid statement “is understood to have caused consternation among those running the process” as it promised to return United to its “former glories” and “implied criticism of the present owners”.
The Ineos bid then issued its own statement on Saturday which outlined their desire for “putting the Manchester back into Manchester United” and investing money to “make them the number one club in the world once again”.
Meanwhile, the Glazer family have reportedly been offered the financial backing to STAY at United by hedge fund company Elliott Management.
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They have entered the takeover race and presented a way for the current owners to stay.
ESPN report that the US billionaire group do not want to buy Man Utd outright and their proposal is “possible financing, not a bid for the club.”
They would instead look to help finance United, which means they may help clear debts, or obtain part-ownership, or potentially both.
This would help the Glazers remain at Old Trafford as Elliott Management’s cash injection could also assist them do things like renovate Old Trafford.
Man Utd legend Gary Neville has outlined his fears the Glazers will remain as significant shareholders and Elliott Management could provide them with that exact opportunity.
Meanwhile, the Manchester United Supporters Trust has expressed their concern about a potential takeover from Qatar, saying: “There are questions about sporting integrity given the exceptionally close links between some bidders and the owners of other European clubs including PSG and Nice.
“We also note the importance that any owner respects the rights of all people, particularly women and the LGBTQ+ community.
“Concerns have been raised by other fans groups which we fully support. We urge all bidders to open a dialogue with fans groups alongside the bidding process with the club, in order to discuss their proposals including the above issues.”