LGBTQ+ activist concerned by potential Qatari takeover of Man Utd
Sheikh Jassim and his Nine Two Foundation are being ‘bullish’ as the Qatari billionaire looks to buy Manchester United, it has been claimed. The mysterious figure has made four bids for the club so far. And his latest was apparently made via phone call to the Glazers directly, instead of through the Raine Group - who have been overseeing the takeover process.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking to GiveMeSport, the Glazers and Sheikh Jassim had a ‘phone call’ in which the Qatari billionaire made his latest bid for the club.
And it’s also claimed he and his Nine Two Foundation are being ‘bullish’ as they look to acquire the Red Devils following 18 years of Glazers rule.
“I think the thing with Sheikh Jassim that's key is that, throughout this whole process, the Nine Two Foundation have been using intermediaries and there's been an element of smoke and mirrors,” he said.
"It's not just the Glazers that haven't shown their hand, it's also to an extent the Nine Two Foundation.
“Now, what we're seeing is a movement towards clarity.
“From the perspective of the Nine Two Foundation, they continue to - where necessary - be quite bullish.
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"We've seen that, in making the fourth offer, which came after their supposed final offer that they were absolutely fine going to the Glazers direct with, which was a phone call.
"That's an indication that they're in this particular process to try and win.
“If that means going up in offer, they've shown that they're prepared to do that."
Sheikh Jassim isn’t alone in wanting to buy United, however.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe remains a candidate as well and is willing to let brothers Joel and Avram Glazer stay at the club in reduced roles as part of the arrangement.
All six family members are thought to be open to parting ways with United.
But Joel and Avram are the members of the family who are currently the most reluctant to pack their bags and go.
United also have offers on the table for minority investment, which would allow the Glazers to retain power.
However, it perhaps speaks volumes that the family are yet to accept an offer in that regard and it’ll be interesting to see how the situation unfolds.
Interested candidates had been hoping to receive feedback on Friday.
Yet that doesn’t appear likely to happen now, amid suggestions the takeover process could even drag on through the summer.
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