Man Utd takeover: Mystery third bidder joins Ratcliffe and Qataris

Jacque Talbot

• 5 Mar 2023 14:38 GMT
• 3 min read

A third bidder has been confirmed as joining the race to takeover Manchester United.

The Daily Mail report that a selection of consortiums, including a Qatari group and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s group, have been summoned to Old Trafford for meetings in the next fortnight, which will represent the first of several formal discussions.

Those who have made it to the second stage of the process will be involved in the talks with merchant bankers Raine, who are heading negotiations over a possible change in ownership.

Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s bid is for a majority stake, while Ratcliffe is hoping to turn the club 'back into the number one team in the world'. And a third party, an unnamed group, will also be attending.

But there are some issues over the process: there is what has been reported as ‘a growing frustration’ by those involved at the fact they have so far been unable to view a comprehensive breakdown Man Utd’s financial records.

The sides who expressed an interest were given access to a data room - but this is still not the full picture of the club’s revenue.

What’s missing is an independent assessment of Old Trafford and the cost it would take to develop the Theatre of Dream. The same for the club’s Carrington training ground,

Man Utd’s chief financial officer Cliff Baty and chief executive Richard Arnold will be at the scheduled meetings, as well as executives from Raine.

Bids are in for Man Utd

It is not yet revealed whether any member of the unpopular Glazer family will be in attendance.

It comes after the stories that the groups’ first bid was short of the American owners

Glazers’ valuation of the club, which is reported to be around the £6 billion mark.

Raine have invited bids for club control and investment in return for a partial stake. A full takeover has not been ruled out and sounds are that such a move is the intention of the Qatari group.

Read more about: Premier League, Man Utd