The Glazers have decided to sell 25 per cent of Manchester United to Sir Jim Ratcliffe rather than give Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani ownership in a full takeover
Erik ten Hag faces a difficult challenge ahead of him
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani wanted to gift Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag three world-class talents before the Glazers rejected his takeover bid.
Ten Hag will now have to do without, though, as the Qatari banker formally pulled out of the race on Saturday after his $6billion (£4.9bn) offer was snubbed, leaving Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the only remaining bidder. Sheikh Jassim, backed by his billions in the Middle East, had targeted none other than Kylian Mbappe and two of his international team-mates to herald in a new era at Old Trafford.
PSG superstar Mbappe would’ve been joined by fellow Frenchman Kingsley Coman and Eduardo Camavinga, two players who’ve been linked with United in recent years. According to Bild in Germany, the trio were picked out by the Qatari entourage, who are now out of contention and have given Ratcliffe a free run.
The INEOS founder and chief executive is poised to complete a £1.4bn deal which will see him own a quarter of the club. Ratcliffe’s proposal is expected to be ratified at a United board meeting next week, handing Britain’s second-richest man and his company control over the football side of things at Old Trafford.
INEOS may look to make their own eye-popping signings, with Mbappe’s future at PSG still uncertain. The France captain, 24, is in the final year of his lucrative contract, with a new deal yet to be agreed and Real Madrid circling for signature in the hope of securing a free transfer next summer.
Coman, meanwhile, extended his deal with Bayern Munich back in January 2022, with the former Juventus winger remaining under contract for another four years. Eduardo Camavinga left Rennes to join Real Madrid two years ago amid links to United, then managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe was targeted by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (
Image:
Patrick Goosen/ BSR Agency/ Getty Images)
Ratcliffe has previously criticised the Glazer family’s transfer business, telling the Times: “They haven’t got the manager selection right, haven’t bought well.
“They have been the dumb money, which you see with players like Fred. United have spent an immense amount since [Sir Alex] Ferguson left and been poor, to put it mildly. Shockingly poor, to be honest.
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“We have a different approach here to be moderately intelligent about it. Try to do it more grassroots, trying to locate young talent. Some clubs seem to have an ability to do that, Southampton and Lille. United have done it really poorly. They have lost the plot.”
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