Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has reportedly emerged victorious in his bid to purchase Manchester United (Man United), according to Al-Watan, a Qatari media outlet owned by his father, the country’s former Prime Minister.
Sheikh Jassim’s offer, which is said to be for the entirety of the club, has apparently beaten competition from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire owner of INEOS.
Read more: Manchester United takeover: A bidding war is on
The Glazer family, who have owned United since 2005, announced in November that they were exploring strategic alternatives for the club, leading to a bidding process that has taken months and seen nine offers submitted.
Sheikh Jassim’s alleged successful acquisition of the club would see an end to the Glazers’ involvement in the team. Ratcliffe, on the other hand, is said to be bidding for roughly 60% of the club’s shares and is open to the Glazer family staying on in some capacity.
An announcement of the deal is expected soon and would bring closure to a long-running saga. Sheikh Jassim’s expected acquisition of Man United has already been congratulated by Zaid Al-Hamdan, the Vice Chairman of the Canadian Qatari Business Council and Chairman of Armasite Group. The deal will mark a significant change for the iconic football club, which has been owned by the Glazers for nearly two decades.
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