Man Utd transfer news

THE head of Qatar’s biggest bank has unveiled himself as the latest bidder to take full control of Manchester United.Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a member of the Gulf state’s ruling royal family, last night confirmed he has lodged an offer — believed to be up to £5billion — for “100 per cent” of United.
Man Utd could be set for a huge takeover, with a bid from Qatar now officialCredit: Rex
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is behind the massive bid for United from Qatar
The Glazers, including co-chairman Avram and Joel, revealed last November they were open to selling the clubCredit: AFP
He also vowed to “return the club to its former glories” and make it “completely debt free”.
One of Britain’s richest men, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and his Ineos group also made a bid ahead of last night’s 10pm ‘soft’ deadline.
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.”
Saudi and US-led consortia are also believed to be in the contest.
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Sheikh Jassim, whose father Hamad is a former Prime Minister of Qatar, made his formal approach to United’s bid supervisors, the US-based Raine Group.
The 41-year-old, educated at the elite Sandhurst military academy in Berkshire and who claims to be a lifelong United fan, emerged as the man behind the previously secretive Qatari bid.
And the decision by the Qatari, chairman of the QIB bank which has assets of £42bn, to put his head above the parapet could be the most significant of all in the battle for United.
Any deal at the £5bn mark would smash the record price for a sports team – with NFL franchise Denver Broncos currently the most expensive after a £3.8bn takeover last year.
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However the Qatari offer still falls below the Glazer family’s £6bn asking price.
In a statement issued on his behalf by a senior London PR company, Sheikh Jassim said he planned to “return the Club to its former glories both on and off the pitch”.
The statement added: “Above all, the bid will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once more.”
While United fans have grown increasingly angry at the Glazer family piling debt on the club, the potential Qatari owner is promising a very different strategy.
His PR group said: “The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the Club supports.
“The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world.
“More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops.”
It is now up to Raine to take the next step, which is expected to see a shortlist of bidders made, as when the bankers sold Chelsea to Todd Boehly’s group.
The Qatari offer will raise questions over potential links with Paris Saint-Germain, owned by the £370bn Qatari Investment Authority.
Uefa has rules to bar clubs from its competitions in any season if owners have “decisive influence” over two clubs which qualify – as they did for year’s Champions League.
The QIA have a 17 per cent stake in Sheikh Jassim’s QIB bank, although his team say he is making the offer through his private wealth.
The Rainbow Devils, a United LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, have raised concerns about interest from Qatar, where same-sex relationships are criminalised.
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A statement read: “Rainbow Devils believe any bidder must commit to making football a sport for everyone, including LGBTQ+ supporters, players and staff.
“We therefore have deep concern over some of the bids that are being made.”
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is also in the runningCredit: AFP
Several parties have expressed interest in buying the Red DevilsCredit: AFP
The bidder’s father, ex-Qatar PM Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, was thought to also have shown interestCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

SIR ALEX FERGUSON once hit one of his former Manchester United defenders with a CRICKET BAT.The legendary Scotsman, 81, retired in 2013 after 26 years in charge at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson hit one of his old Man Utd defenders with a cricket batCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
During that period he guided the club to 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two Champions League triumphs.
Fergie managed a host of star names in that period as well as many talented players he helped nurture through from the academy.
One of those was former England international defender Wes Brown, who spent 19 years with United from child to man.
The now 43-year-old, who went on to play for Sunderland, Blackburn and Kerala Blasters, looked up to the fiery Ferguson as a mentor.
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However, he has now revealed one terrifying incident that occurred after he informed his old boss that he was looking to move house.
When asked on the Football Social Daily podcast if Ferguson really did hit him with a cricket bat, Brown replied: “Correct.”
“Yeah he used to have this little cricket bat, I don’t know if it was signed by an Australian or New Zealand player.
“He told me I had to move and I told him where I was going to move to. Then he hit me with a cricket bat.”
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However, Brown was quick to play down the ferocity, saying: “It’s a little one, just a little whack over the head. Saying that, he still whacks me now when I see him.”
Brown added: “He told me I had to move from Longsight.
“And then I told him I was looking for places in the city centre, which provoked the whack.”
Brown also revealed how a fight on a bus led to his biggest telling off from Fergie and a pay rise.
He said: “I turned pro at 17 and started playing at 18, and in that time I still hadn’t signed another contract, so I was probably on about £250 a week. And then I had a fight on a bus going home because I got the bus everywhere, the 192 into Piccadilly.
“Something happened on the bus and my manager (Ferguson) found out and he said to me ‘what the f*** are you doing on the bus?’
Wes Brown revealed all about what it was like playing for FergieCredit: PA
“I said, ‘I’ve always got the bus, boss’ and he’s shouting at me for getting a bus and telling me to get a taxi.”
He added: “I explained to him that I couldn’t afford a taxi because that would be £14 a day, £7 from my house to Salford.
“Still living with my mum and I need to give her some money and buying snide Ralph Laurens to go out.
“He stopped shouting at me after that. And he was like ‘yeah, well we’ll sort that out’. And that’s pretty much how that went. So the actual incident got forgotten about so I was happy about that.”
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Brown had a glittering career at Old Trafford winning an array of titles including five Premier Leagues and three FA Cups.
He is also part of a small group of United players who have won the Champions League twice having lifted the famous trophy in 1999 and 2008. More