New entrant in the Manchester United sale as other clubs wants investigation

The Manchester United sale saga has taken a turn ever since the fifth bid from Sheikh Jassim’s camp. The Glazers and the Raine Group have reached out to a reputed name for a consultation

According to recent reports, The Glazers family has consulted Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi over the Manchester United sale to Qatari group Sheikh Jassim. It appears that the Glazers have approached Al-Khelaifi to enlist his assistance in persuading the Nine Two Foundation to enhance their bid for the club.

"But the PSG boss, one of the most powerful men in global football, has subsequently been contacted by the Glazers in an attempt to persuade Sheikh Jassim to increase his bid.(Via: The Athletic)"

The Manchester United sale saga

Manchester United fans were not happy with how Glazers bought the club and their way of running the club with directors who had the least football knowledge. After 15+ years of protest, the Glazers family finally decided to put it up for sale in November 2022. The bidding contest began to acquire the crown jewel of English football but soon boiled down to a two-horse race due to the valuation of the club.

The prolonged duration of the sale process since November has been a source of frustration for Sheikh Jassim’s group, as they anticipated a more expedited timeline. In response to the sluggish pace, the Qatari group has taken action by submitting their fifth and final bid to the Raine Group, signalling their determination to advance the proceedings.

What do we know about the numbers?

Sheikh Jassim’s fifth and final bid via the Nine Two Foundation has astounded onlookers with its substantial value of approximately £5 billion, aiming to secure full ownership of the club. In contrast, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bid revolves around acquiring a 51% stake in Manchester United. However, both offers fall significantly short of the valuation proposed by the Glazers, who have stated that the Red Devils are worth £6.4 billion.

Role of Nasser Al-Khelaifi in Manchester United sale

According to reliable sources, Sheikh Jassim initially consulted the PSG boss to discuss the potential purchase price of one of the highly successful Premier League clubs. Nasser Al-Khelaifi, a prominent figure in European football and the president of PSG, is currently acting in the capacity of an advisor for Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation in their proposed takeover bid. This involvement by Al-Khelaifi, given his esteemed position and wealth of experience, adds an additional layer of expertise to the ongoing proceedings.

On the other hand, as mentioned earlier, the Glazers family has also approached Nasser Al-Khelaifi to persuade the Qatari group to improve their bid to buy Manchester United.

The rest of the Premier League wants an investigation!

According to a recent report, there is growing sentiment among the remaining Premier League clubs to initiate an investigation into the source of funds employed by Sheikh Jassim’s group for the acquisition of Manchester United. The rationale for the fears is the role of Nasser Al-Khelaifi in the proceedings. The PSG’s boss is also the boss of Qatar Sports Investments, a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority. The rest of the clubs believe that Sheikh Jassim could just be the face of state ownership of the club if the deal goes through.

Currently, neither of the two bidders holds a clear advantage, as the Raine Group views Sheikh Jassim’s fifth bid as a substantial and noteworthy proposition. The final decision regarding the preferred bidder by the Glazers remains a captivating point of interest.

Should other clubs take the investigation to The Football Association? Have your say below!