MANCHESTER UNITED’s potential new Qatari owners arrived for a tour of their prospective purchase this morning.
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a member of the Gulf state’s ruling royal family, has tabled a bid believed to be under the Glazers’ £6billion asking price.
Al Thani’s bid is reportedly worth £5bn but he is promising to wipe the club’s debt and fund upgrades for both Old Trafford and Carrington.
One of Britain’s richest men, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and his Ineos group also made a bid.
Locally-born United supporter Ratcliffe, 70, has pitched that he will put “Manchester back into Manchester United” with a “British bid to make the club a beacon for a modern, progressive, fan-centred approach to ownership.”
Now all interested parties have been told that they have 10 days to submit their next offer to purchase the club.
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However, representatives from the Qatari offer were spotted outside of Old Trafford earlier today as they attended presentations by the club.
Shahzad Shahbaz, president of Nine Two Foundation, was in attendance at Old Trafford on behalf of the Qatari bid as was Yasir Shah, managing director of Bank of America.
And several lawyers from international law firm Macfarlanes accompanied them.
The officials representing the Middle East were believed to be meeting staff members of various departments, including football, financial and commercial as well as receiving a tour of the Theatre of Dreams and the Carrington training ground.
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Both the stadium and training HQ are in need of a revamp, and the trip will have allowed them to assess how much would be needed for a makeover.
Rival Sir Jim and his representatives will get their turn tomorrow before second offers will then be invited to be made to the US bank Raine Group, who are handling the sale on behalf of the Glazers.
They will then consult with American owners before determining who their preferred bidder is and then giving them full access to United’s accounts and then further negotiations could take place.
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani was not in attendance himself earlier.
But his team of execs from Bank of America, who are acting for the Qatari and lawyers, travelled up by train from London to the North West instead.
Ratcliffe, who owns Ineos and Ligue 1 side Nice, is believed to be jetting in himself on Friday from Southern France.
And two other bidders that are believed to be from the USA are also allegedly in the frame and will be doing the same.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
