Sheikh Jassim’s representatives visited Manchester United on Thursday to look at the stadium and training ground; focus of visit was to get a perspective on what they could do with their capital investment regarding infrastructure; Sir Jim Ratcliffe attended a similar meeting on Friday
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani would now be “willing to overpay” for Man Utd with a figure closer to the Glazers’ £6bn price tag after his representatives visited the club this week.
It was previously understood the Qatari bidders were determined not to pay over the odds for the club, but that stance has softened in recent days coinciding with a delegation’s visit to Old Trafford on Thursday.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe followed him to Manchester 24 hours later to conduct his own meetings with the club’s hierarchy, with a second round of bidding – which Sheikh Jassim will definitely be a part of – now expected to commence next week.
Sky Sports News senior reporter Kaveh Solhekol said: “If the Glazers are serious about selling Manchester United, I think the club could change hands by the end of the season, before the transfer window opens in the summer.
“We can’t be sure what their criteria are for who they want to sell the club to. Will it be the right person or just who puts the most money on the table?
Delegations representing Sheikh Jassim Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe will visit Old Trafford and the Manchester United training ground ahead of their proposed bids for the club.
“If it was just down to money, you would think the Qataris would be able to outbid anyone. I’ve been told previously the Qataris were going to be sensible and not overpay wildly for Manchester United.
“But in the last couple of days, the mood music has changed a little bit. And I’m being told the Qataris really want to buy Manchester United and they are willing to overpay. But I think anybody who buys the club will have to do that – because the Glazers are asking for about £6bn.”
Sky Sports News has been told by sources in New York that “there should be no doubt at all that Sheikh Jassim wants to be the owner and custodian of United”.
A Qatari delegation travelled to Manchester from London by train on Thursday and received a warm welcome. Talks are said to have been positive and constructive across 10 hours – a lot longer than expected.
Sheikh Jassim and members of his team have been to Old Trafford as fans before, and the focus of this visit was to get a perspective on what they could do with their capital investment regarding infrastructure, youth development and the women’s team.
They have been trying to get a better understanding before they make another bid. United will obviously be “selling the dream” to achieve as high a price as possible if the club is sold.
It is too early for Sheikh Jassim to be there in person and he doesn’t just want to go just for a photo opportunity.
He has sent his top team of experts in finance, banking, property and law with the Qataris totally committed and in this to buy the club.
How did Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s visit to Old Trafford go?
Ratcliffe, 70, flew in from Nice on Thursday and visited United’s management team at Old Trafford on Friday, alongside INEOS sport representatives.
The billionaire was photographed outside Old Trafford after meeting club executives – unlike Sheikh Jassim, who did not visit Manchester personally the previous day.
Solhekol said: “It’s an interesting contrast with Sheikh Jassim. Sir Jim was happy to be filmed and photographed, and it was significant that Richard Arnold was there to greet him when he arrived, shaking his hand and being photographed then too.
“It gives you another sense that maybe the Glazers are serious about selling Man Utd. This was a high-powered delegation from INEOS, he was there with the two co-owners, Andy Currie and John Reece. Sir Dave Brailsford, who used to be the director of cycling at Team Sky – he’s now INEOS’ director of sport and he was there too.”