ERIK TEN HAG met Sir Jim Ratcliffe during the British billionaire’s visit to Carrington amid takeover talks.
The ownership battle continues to rage in the background at Old Trafford as investors with deep pockets look to get involved with one of football’s biggest clubs.
It was the turn of Qatar businessman Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani to visit the training ground on Thursday.
He took part in ten-hour talks at the club as they toured Carrington and Old Trafford.
And on Friday it was Racliffe who got his chance to see the club up close.
And unlike Sheikh Jassim, Ineos owner Ratcliffe met the United boss who was at the training ground doing his media duties.
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Ten Hag told reporters: “I just met them, we shake hands, I’m focused on the game, we play a big game on Sunday, all our focus is on that, others in the club are dealing with potential investors.
“My job in this moment is focus on the game so let’s talk about the game, it’s a big tie and we have to get ready for that.”
Ratcliffe was joined by Ineos’ director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford for the Carrington trip and he is also believed to have chatted to Ten Hag.
United were in Europa League action on Thursday night so ten Hag was not able to meet with Sheikh Jassim.
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But the prospective owners would have been impressed with what they saw as United kept out a determined Real Betis and won 1-0 to confirm a place in the Europa quarter-finals.
Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe are the clear frontrunners for the job but smaller parties could still be crucial to dictating what happens.
The Qataris are reportedly set to launch an improved second bid.
They have already put down a £5bn bid but could now up the offer to try and gain control of the takeover battle.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
