Man Utd takeover: How Ratcliffe bid can see Glazers leave

Jacque Talbot

• 30 Apr 2023 14:45 BST
• 3 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bid for Manchester United might be for just 50% of the club - but there is still a window for the Glazers to leave.

Duncan Castles reports that, as part of the takeover agreement with the Ineos chief, Joel and Avram Glazer would be granted options to sell their shares after year one and year two of the billionaire’s stewardship - or they will be able to just retain their minority ownership indefinitely.

Following the third round of bids, it seems that Ineos may have taken a significant step towards taking control - with reports suggesting that their bid for the club was actually higher than Sheikh Jassim's.

READ MORE: Maguire certain to leave Man Utd after Shaw snub

The group’s bid for the Premier League giants was the highest ‘relative to the stake they intend to take’, reports BBC Sport.

Qatar banker Sheikh Jassim, whose bid was for 100% of the club, offered about £5 billion. Ratcliffe only wants a partial stake, thought to be around half, which will allow co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer to retain some part of the side.

Ratcliffe the frontrunner

The initial bid by Ratcliffe was for 69% but it seems that Britain’s wealthiest man has reduced the amount in a move to entice the Glazers to accept his bid over Sheikh Jassim.

It’s now up to the Glazers to work out whose bid they will accept.

Their ownership was protested ahead of Man Utd’s Premier League game with Aston Villa - with fans expressing a 'Full Sale Only' message.

The Glazers have owned the side for 18 years but supporters are frustrated with how much money they have taken out of the club and the lack of investment the American family have put in the infrastructure, such as the training ground and the stadium, Old Trafford, which is said to be on its last legs.