Man Utd given '48-hour' warning as Ratcliffe takeover proves 'very complicated'

Jacque Talbot

• 18 Dec 2023 11:52 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United have been handed a 48-hour warning over whether the partial takeover will be completed before the New Year.

Reporter Ben Jacobs has stated that the club are heading into a crucial few days that will determine whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s stake goes through before January.

It’s now been 13 months since the Glazer family announced that they were open to offers for the club, with several consortiums then going through several rounds of bids.

But it appears to be Ratcliffe who has emerged victorious - though when his deal will go through is not clear. There have been constant delays to the official announcement, with the complex legalities of the deal being the key reason.

Jacobs wrote on X (formerly Twitter: “Next few days will determine whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% stake in #MUFC can be announced before the New Year. Still a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’. All parties working towards this week, but no guarantees. Depends on next 24-48 hours. Very complicated legal transaction.”

Next few days will determine whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% stake in #MUFC can be announced before the New Year. Still a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’. All parties working towards this week, but no guarantees. Depends on next 24-48 hours. Very complicated legal transaction.🔴 pic.twitter.com/oAckEIpwKx

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 18, 2023

What did Fabrizio Romano say about the Man Utd takeover?

It comes after Fabrizio Romano stated that it is only a matter of time before the takeover is completed.

Ratcliffe is unlikely to become United’s majority stakeholder for a couple of years but he will take control of football operations with immediate effect.

Romano said in his CaughtOffside column: “We are all hearing 1000 reports a day regarding the announcement of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s deal to take over 25% of Manchester United as it is a situation that is always changing because it’s a big deal and lawyers are on it,” Romano told Caught Offside.

“I don’t know the day when it will happen but for sure the situation remains the same: it is only a matter of time, it’s not in danger and it will happen soon. The timing will be important for Man United regarding the business they do in January.