Man Utd news LIVE: Takeover LATEST as Sir Jim Ratcliffe makes statement after INEOS confirm bid, Qatar £5bn debt FREE | The Sun
MANCHESTER UNITED'S takeover is in FULL swing with two bids confirmed before the 'soft' deadline.
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani promised to make the club debt free if his huge offer succeeds.
He said his aim is to "return the Club to its former glories both on and off the pitch".
And Britain's richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe has also put in a late offer to rival Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani's £5billion approach.
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- Henry Tomlinson
GIFT OF THE GAB
Man United have reportedly agreed to sign 16-year-old Cardiff City wonderkid Gabriele Biancheri on a permanent deal.
Biancheri confirmed his departure from the Cardiff City Stadium with an official statement on Friday.
It read: "After more than 9 years my time with Cardiff has come to an end.
"I’d like to thank all of my coaches for helping me become the player and person I am today and to all my teammates.
"I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunity I’ve had at this club."
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Biancheri is on his way to Old Trafford.
- Henry Tomlinson
JIM'S BID
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's bid to buy Manchester United is £4billion, reports claim.
That is £1bn less than the £5bn Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is believed to have tabled for the Red Devils.
Ratcliffe has lodged an offer worth £4bn, according to Foot Mercato.
That falls short of the £6bn the Glazers are thought to be demanding to sell the club.
However, in contrast to Sheikh Jassim's attempt to take full control, Ratcliffe's bid is for "majority ownership" of the club.
- Henry Tomlinson
DOUBLE GLAZING
The Glazer family are in line to make a huge profit when they sell Manchester United.
After purchasing the club in a leveraged buy-out, the Glazer family only put in £150million of their own money in 17 years at the helm, as per Sky Sports – while taking money in dividends.
They now stand to make at least between £4bn-£5bn. And they are even hoping to receive an offer worth £6bn.
This would see them receive a sum worth around 40 times what they spent on the club. The money they receive will also be TAX FREE.
This is because they moved the official club HQ from Old Trafford to the Cayman Islands.
Credit: AFP
- Henry Tomlinson
Who do the fans want?
United LGBTQ+ supporters’ group Rainbow Devils voiced concerns about interest from Qatar, where same-sex relationships are criminalised.
A statement said: "Rainbow Devils believe any bidder must commit to making football a sport for everyone, including LGBTQ+ supporters, players and staff. We therefore have deep concern over some of the bids that are being made."
And United fans told SunSport that Ratcliffe is their preferred owner.
In a vote, 45.75 per cent of fans voted in favour of the Oldham-born billionaire, who has experience in owning a football club, assuming control.
But that was only marginally ahead of the 44.55 per cent of fans who voted for Qatari investors.
3.59 per cent of the vote was in favour of the Glazers staying in charge, while 6.11 per cent of people voting preferred someone other than the previous options.
- Henry Tomlinson
What is their net worth?
Sheikh Jassim is chairman of Qatari bank QIB, which has assets of £42bn.
He is also part of Qatar's ruling royal family.
And his offer will raise questions over potential links with PSG, who are owned by the £370bn Qatari Investment Authority.
Meanwhile, The Sunday Times 'Rich List' in 2022 estimated Ratcliffe's personal fortune at £6.1bn.
And his overall net worth is around £11.3bn, according to Bloomberg.
- Henry Tomlinson
Who are the bidders?
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is chairman of one of Qatar’s biggest banks, QIB.
He is also the son of a former prime minister of Qatar and a member of the Gulf state's ruling royal family.
According to the Guardian, he become a United fan in 1992, which is why his foundation is called the Nine Two Foundation, also a reference to the famous Class of '92.
Meanwhile Ratcliffe, 70, is also a Red Devils supporter, and was born in Oldham.
He previously revealed last summer that he was interested in taking over the club.
He is chairman and CEO of chemicals group INEOS, which owns French club Nice, Swiss outfit Lausanne, plus a third of Formula One team Mercedes.
- Henry Tomlinson
Qatar's promises for takeover
Qatar's Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani vowed to return Manchester United to "its former glories" if he buys the club.
- Henry Tomlinson
More from Ratcliffe
The statement continues: "We also recognise that football governance in this country is at a crossroads.
"We would want to help lead this next chapter, deepening the culture of English football by making the club a beacon for a modern, progressive, fan-centred approach to ownership.
"We want a Manchester United anchored in its proud history and roots in the North-West of England, putting the Manchester back into Manchester United and clearly focusing on winning the Champions League.'
Credit: AFP - Henry Tomlinson
Ratcliffe confirms bid
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has confirmed his bid for Man United.
It has been revealed that the bid is for a "majority ownership" of the club
A statement read: "Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have submitted a bid for majority ownership of Manchester United Football Club.
"We would see our role as the long-term custodians of Manchester United on behalf of the fans and the wider community.
"We are ambitious and highly competitive and would want to invest in Manchester United to make them the number one club in the world once again."
- Henry Tomlinson
Weghorst targeting more goals
He added: “Whether it’s the first one or not, at the end as a striker you want to score goals. That’s the best feeling, the most amazing feeling.
“That’s what you’re doing it for as a striker.
“I’m waiting for the first one here at Old Trafford. Unfortunately it’s taken a little bit too long already for myself but I have to stay quiet and just work really hard and do my thing.
“Then hopefully that will come soon. I think that will be a special moment.”
- Henry Tomlinson
Weghorst enjoying himself
Wout Weghortst has revealed he is enjoying his time on loan at Man United.
He told club media: “It’s good and I’m happy. That’s the thing that I wanted before I came here, to be part of it, to be important and the start overall is good.
“There’s room for improvement and things can go better but, as a beginning, the most important thing is that we’re keeping on track like we’re doing now by winning the games.
“Of course you want to have as much of a contribution in it by scoring goals and feeling important. There’s a little bit of room for improvement still, but we keep going.”
Credit: Getty - Henry Tomlinson
Martinez explains nickname
Lisandro Martinez has explained where he got the nickname "The Butcher".
The Man United defender said: “I don’t know why at Ajax they called me 'The Butcher'.
“I don’t even remember who gave me the nickname. It must be because I'm aggressive in the way I play my game.
“I did once make a vacuum (a cut of Argentine beef) in my house, so in one way the nickname suits me! But the truth is that I do go to each challenge like it is going to be my last one.
“Having said that, I have greatly improved the way I read the game and how to make decisions.
“I have also grown in the way I pass the ball. And I want to continue improving absolutely everything. There is no limit for me. But if I want to go higher, I have to work for it – and that will always be the reality.”
Credit: Getty - Henry Tomlinson
Garnacho 'ponders' Spain
Alejandro Garnacho is reportedly wanted by Spain to change his international allegiance.
According to The Mirror, the winger is being targeted by Spain to join young stars Gavi and Pedri in their next generation of talent.
The Man United star currently represents Argentina but has not played in a competitive match and since he was born in Madrid still could qualify for Spain.
Credit: Getty - Henry Tomlinson
Last bits from Pellistri
Pellistri has also insisted that he is "focused on helping the team" moving forward.
Th Uruguayan could be back in action for the side against Leicester City tomorrow.
He said: “To be in a position to make my [league] debut was incredible but what I was more focused on was helping the team in that game.
“Of course, at the end it was a draw [against Leeds].
“Not such a good result, but the way we drew was good.”
- Henry Tomlinson
More from Pellistri
The starlet has also praised the opportunity to work with manager Erik ten Hag.
He added: “It’s incredible [to be managed by Ten Hag].
“He has a very good mentality. In the first days he arrived here, he was very clear with his ideas and I think we are looking [like we understand his ideas] on the pitch every match.
“He has the clear idea, he is telling you all the time things you have to improve and I think that’s the way we can get to the top.
“The training is good, the mentality is good and I think the manager and all the staff are here to make things better and hopefully it continues like this.”
- Henry Tomlinson
Pellistri looks back on debut
Facundo Pellistri has admitted that it was "incredible" to make his debut for Man United against Charlton in the Carabo Cup last month.
He told club media: “It was incredible, because I had been looking forward to that moment for a long time.
“I was the one who enjoyed being on the pitch and wearing the Manchester United shirt and luckily there were 10 minutes more or less and I could touch the ball a lot and make that assist for Rashford.
“So it was a very good moment, perfect, and it is a night I’m going to remember.
“Every time I train, every time I play a game I will remember that night because it was incredible.”
Credit: Getty - Henry Tomlinson
'Silly' to call Rashford world class
Simon Jordon has suggested that despite Marcus Rashford's brilliant run in front of goal should not see him labeled as 'world class'.
He told talkSPORT: "Rashford is in a ridiculous vein of form.
"What I’ve always pushed back against is the characterisation that he is a world class player and he’s in an elite position.”
“A body of work and a constant level of containment puts you above everybody else.
"At this moment in time, while Marcus Rashford’s form is extraordinary good, I think it’s a bit silly to call him world class.”
- Henry Tomlinson
United 'monitoring' Roma star
Man United are reportedly monitoring former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham's situation at Roma, according to 90min.
The Englishman has been tipped with a return to England after a successful spell in the Italian capital.
Both Man United and Aston Villa have been linked with his signature.
For Roma he has scored 34 goals in 83 appearances in all competitions.
Credit: Getty - Henry Tomlinson
United 'serious contenders' for duo
Man United could become one of the favourites to sign star players Jude Bellingham and Victor Osimhen, according to Sky Sports.
The club have seen bids be made for a full takeover from the Glazers, including a £5billion bid from Qatari investors.
If their bid is successful then they are said to become 'serious contenders' in the race for the exciting duo.
- Henry Tomlinson
Rodgers praise for United
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers was full of praise for Man United's summer signings this week but did admit he was thankful that Casemiro is suspended for their match on Sunday.
He said: “I look at Man United and see the introduction of new players.
“(Christian) Eriksen, (Lisandro) Martinez, and Casemiro is a world-class player. He’s calm, he has quality. Thankfully for us, he’s suspended.
“He’s given them a stabilising effect. Erik (ten Hag) and his team, they’ve given them good organisation.
“Then they have a collective group. They are up there competing and played a good game last night.”
Credit: Getty - James Orr
What happens if Qatar own Man Utd and PSG at same time?
There are no restrictions on an owner acquiring multiple clubs at the same time in different countries.
For example, the owners of Manchester City also own another 10 football teams around the world.
That means the Qatari group that already own Paris Saint-Germain – Qatar Sports Investment – could own Manchester United.
However there is a stumbling block as both team could not play in the Champions League in the same season, to protect the "integrity of the competition".
- Giacomo Pisa
Good morning Man United fans
Last night the 'soft' deadline past for prospective buyers of the club passed.
There was confirmation that a Qatari investment group had made a £5billion bid for 100 per cent control of the club.
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a member of the Gulf state’s ruling Royal family vowed to “return the club to its former glories”.
Britain's richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe also confirmed his rival bid.
United fan Ratcliffe reportedly told the global bank overseeing bids to buy out the Glazers that he wants ownership for the long haul.
He added that he has Wall Street backing.
The Red Devils are back in Premier League action tomorrow as they face Leicester City.
Erik Ten Hag will be forced to continue without long-term absentees Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek.
The quartet of Anthony Martial, Anthony, Phil Jones and Scott McTominay are also likely to miss the Leicester clash.
Casemiro remains suspended for the red card he picked up against Crystal Palace.
- Henry Tomlinson
United chief faces AXE
Man United CEO Richard Arnold reportedly faces the sack from the club should the Qatari investors be successful in their bid to take over the club.
Arnold only took the position last year as he replaced Ed Woodward.
According to L’Equipe, Hassan Al Thawadi and Nasser al-Khater are being touted as potential replacements.
Credit: AFP - Henry Tomlinson
MASON MEET-UP
Man United striker Mason Greenwood has secretly met up with some of his teammates after attempted rape charges were dropped.
The 21-year-old is keen to rekindle relationships with them in a bid to resurrect his Old Trafford career.
He remains unable to play for United or train with the squad while an internal investigation is under way.
But a source said: “He’s reached out to some of the United players, some of them he’s known since his academy days.
"They’ve met up with him in private to hear him out so they can make their own mind up.”
Greenwood also reached out via social media to other term-mates, some older and married with kids.
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- Henry Tomlinson
Barca make penalty claim
Barcelona sporting director Jordi Cruyff believes his side should have had a penalty against Man United.
He told Mundo Deportivo: "They looked like hands to us. When four or five players who are on the pitch have an instant reaction, you know there’s something.
"The surprising thing is that they haven’t even gone to look. We can’t complain, we keep working.
"Both teams have had their moment of dominance and in the end I think it’s a pretty fair result, although perhaps in the last 15 minutes we were 3-2.
"I’m happy because away goals aren’t worth double, like before. That makes us start again at 0-0. For a neutral spectator, it’s great fun. The team has had character. I think we can win at Old Trafford."
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