According to a recent report from the sports network ESPN, the prospect of a new takeover of Man United, one of the world’s most popular soccer clubs, may be fading. The current owners of the club, the Glazer brothers, are reportedly considering a new investment that would enable them to retain control of the team and double its value.
While the Glazer family, who has owned the club since 2005, held lately third rounds of bids from various potential ownership groups, it remains unclear whether they actually intend to sell the club. Some analysts suggest that the ongoing bidding process may be part of a broader strategy to boost the club’s value and enhance its position in the global sports market, rather than a genuine attempt to sell it.
ESPN said citing a source familiar with the discussions that Avram and Joel Glazer believe they can increase the club’s value to at least £10 billion ($12.14 billion)
Read more: Qatar could narrow asking price gap in 3rd round bid for Man United
The possibility of a Qatari takeover had been seen as a potential solution to the club’s financial problems, as Qatar’s government-backed investment fund has a history of investing in high-profile sports teams and events.
However, the emergence of this new report suggests that the Glazer brothers may be looking to secure their position at the club and potentially make new investments to improve the team’s performance. It remains to be seen what form this new investment might take or how it will be received by fans and stakeholders.
In addition to Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani and Britain’s richest man, Jim Ratcliffe, four investment funds expressed interest in investing in the team
Sportico reported last week that the sale of Manchester United is taking a new turn. The Glazer family, which has hired the Raine Group to manage the sale, is reportedly considering a third round of bids from various potential ownership groups.
Seven groups, including those led by Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, have received feedback on their bids and have been invited to submit new offers.
The bids submitted by Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim were around $6.2 billion, which falls short of the Glazers’ asking price of $7.5 billion.
Sheikh Jassim is believed to be “willing to overpay” for United with a figure closer to the Glazers’ valuation, according to Skysports.
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