Man Utd takeover twist: Glazers set to STAY as preferred bidder becomes clear

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:37 CDT
• 3 min read

Manchester United’s protracted takeover has been a drawn-out affair – and it appears set to end with the Glazer brothers holding a significant stake in the club.

After three rounds of bidding, The Sun reports that Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group is set to be named as the preferred bidders by the Raine Group, which is overseeing the sale, within days.

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The billionaire is set to beat an offer from Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani to land ownership of the Old Trafford side.

But this does mean that the Glazers will retain a significant stake in Man Utd.

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How much of Man Utd will Ratcliffe’s INEOS bid secure?

Ratcliffe is set to take control of 50% of the club, with the Glazers unwilling to accept Sheikh Jassim’s offer of £5 billion, which is thought to have been closer to the Americans’ valuation of £6bn.

However, it is believed that the Englishman, who tried to buy Chelsea last spring and already owns Ligue 1 outfit Nice, has presented a more attractive option for a partial sale of the club – perhaps offering around £3bn for half ownership, though this figure is unclear.

The other option had been the Glazers selling minority stakes to American financial institutions, which would have allowed them to retain control of the club, but it appears they are willing to let Ratcliffe take command.

Indeed, Sky News reports that Ratcliffe’s bid includes clauses that will see him ultimately complete a full buyout of the club as soon as 2026.

In the meantime, though, the Glazers will retain a significant share in the club.

The news is likely to disappoint a significant portion of Manchester United supporters, who would like to see the Glazer brothers depart as swiftly as possible following years of on-field frustration and confused running in the background.