The president of the Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and the owner of the petrochemical group Ineos presented this Friday their third offers for the purchase of 100% of the Manchester United.
In principle, these would be the final agreements and the Glazer family must now study the proposals and make a decision on whether to finally separate from the entity or remain with it.
“We can confirm that Sheikh Jassim has presented his final offer,” he told AFP a source close to the matter, a few minutes after 6 pm (BrasÃlia time), the deadline set by the owners.
According to the sports channel network sky sportsthis offer would exceed 5.7 billion euros (R$ 31.6 billion), which would be a world record for this type of transaction, although it was far from the expectations of the owners, the Glazer family, which would be around 7 billion euros (R$ 38.8 billion).
“We cannot talk about the details of the offer at this level,” the source close to AFP wrote on the question of the exact amount offered.
But “in addition to the purchase price of the club (the money destined to the sellers), Sheikh Jassim’s offer also includes an investment project of a substantial value directly in the club’s capital and infrastructure”, he emphasized.
The club’s debt, which is close to 700 million euros (R$ 3.8 billion), would be fully paid, guaranteed this source.
According to sky sportsthe other main candidate for the purchase, Jim Ratcliffe, owner of the petrochemical group Ineos, also submitted a third offer to take control of the club, but not for its full acquisition.
Divided family?
The Glazer family, at the head of the emblematic English club for eighteen years, owns 69% of the capital. The remaining 31% is in the hands of institutional investors.
However, the Glazer brothers would be divided on the issue of the sale. Jim Ratcliffe would be willing to leave 19% to brothers Joel and Avram Glazer, co-chairmen of the club, provided he can guarantee that he becomes the majority shareholder of the club.
The British businessman already owns two football clubs: Nice, in France, and Lausanne, in Switzerland. He had warned that he would not pay “absurd sums that you might regret later”.
The deadline for making a third offer, after those made in mid-February and late March, had been set by the American Glazer family at 6 pm this Friday.
In addition to Sheikh Jassim and Jim Ratcliffe, investment funds appeared willing to pursue a minority stake or help the Glazers eventually retain control of the club and fund the infrastructure the club needs.
Manchester United are currently fourth in the Premier League, virtually securing last place in the Champions League zone.
The team was eliminated by Sevilla in the quarterfinals of the Europa League, but is qualified for the final of the FA Cup, where it will face the neighbor Manchester City.
In February, Manchester United won a title, the English League Cup, by beating Newcastle in the final.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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