Manchester United takeover: Reasons for delays

• The Glazers family are considering bids from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad
• The sale process of the club is almost entering the eighth month 
• Disagreement between the Glazer siblings on which bid to accept is slowing down the process

The bid from Qatar to acquire ownership of Manchester United is gaining confidence and appears to be in a favourable position to win the race against rival bidders Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS in the takeover. Led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Qatari bid proposes a complete buyout, taking 100% ownership of the 13-time Premier League champions, while Ratcliffe’s latest offer is for a partial buyout.

The Glazer family, the current owners of Manchester United, has been holding out for a price of £6 billion, although all previous offers have fallen below this asking price. The valuation has been determined by the Glazer family and Raine Group, who have been negotiating the sale on their behalf.

The valuation of Manchester United has been compared to other sports franchises, particularly in the NFL, and the Glazers believe that the club is worth significantly more than the $6 billion sale of the Washington Commanders in April. They even believe that United has the potential to surpass the value of the Dallas Cowboys, currently the most valuable sports franchise in the world, with a valuation of $8 billion.

READ: Manchester United takeover: Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe improved bids

At this stage, neither party is willing to increase their bid, resulting in a lengthy and ongoing sale process that has been dragging on for nearly eight months. The delay in the sale has also affected United’s planned transfer business, with manager Erik ten Hag unable to make any signings as of July. Furthermore, there is uncertainty surrounding the future of goalkeeper David de Gea, whose contract is set to expire soon.

Manchester United home stadium, the Old Trafford. The club’s takeover process has so far taken over eight months. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |

READ: Manchester United takeover: Glazers options

The delay in the sale can be attributed to internal disagreements among the six siblings in the Glazer family. Joel and Avram, who are more involved in the day-to-day operations of the club, favour Ratcliffe’s latest bid. On the other hand, the other four siblings prefer a complete sale, including payment and exit, which would be possible by accepting Qatar’s offer.

A resolution could be reached at any point among the siblings, and Qatar is currently confident that their bid will prevail once a decision is made. However, as of now, the “strategic alternatives” process initiated by the Glazers in November is still ongoing.

The ownership and management of the Glazers have been a source of significant frustration and protests from Manchester United fans over the past 18 years. The protests have intensified in recent months and years, highlighting the discontent among supporters regarding the ownership structure and direction of the club.

In conclusion, the Qatari bid for Manchester United’s ownership is gaining confidence and is considered a frontrunner in the race to acquire the club. While the Glazer family has set a valuation of £6 billion, the potential buyers have yet to meet this price. The delay in the sale has impacted United’s transfer plans and created uncertainty regarding the future of key players. Internal disagreements within the Glazer family have further complicated the sale process. However, Qatar remains optimistic about its chances of securing ownership of the prestigious football club.