After months of uncertainty and speculation, the Manchester United takeover drama is finally nearing its conclusion. The third and final bid deadline passed on Friday night, and now Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani will have to wait to find out if they were successful in acquiring the club from the Glazer family.
Although the former has been considered the favourite throughout the process, Ineos CEO Ratcliffe appears to be in the lead, with reports claiming that the lifelong Manchester United fan has outbid Sheikh Jassim and would even consider allowing Avram and Joel Glazer to retain a small stake in the club.
Ten Hag makes feelings about Glazers clear amidst protests from Manchester United fans
Unsurprisingly, such a scenario has enraged fans, who staged a protest ahead of Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Aston Villa. Thousands marched against the Glazers before the game, making it clear that nothing less than a full sale of the club is acceptable in their eyes.
Hundreds of fans also refused to take their seats for the first 18 minutes of the game, one minute for each year the Glazers have been in charge since completing their leveraged takeover of the club. Erik ten Hag looked to show his support for the protesting Old Trafford fans by holding up a classic green and yellow scarf as he exited the pitch after the final whistle. The Dutchman was heading down the tunnel when he picked up a famous green and gold scarf that had been thrown his way.
Ten Hag picks up a #GlazersOut scarf at the Stretford End ?
via @MufcWonItAllpic.twitter.com/yzpSFNsHCV
— utdreport (@utdreport) April 30, 2023
However, after the game, the Dutchman downplayed the influence of the Manchester United supporters’ protests against the Glazers. Ten Hag said:
“We really felt that the fans were behind us [today]. So we have to focus to be successful because that is what the fans expect and they can expect, and they have to rely on us so we will focus on that. I’m sure when we give performances like we do all season the fans are behind us. There’s a lot of energy, there’s a really strong bond between the fans and the players.”
Raine Group, the US bank in charge of supervising the process for the Glazer family, is likely to reveal a preferred bidder soon. Sheikh Jassim and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe appear to be the two frontrunners in the campaign to buy the club, with the latter currently claiming to be ahead with his most recent bid for a 75% stake, in comparison to Sheikh Jassim’s full takeover proposal.
Ratcliffe is eager to acquire the Glazers’ dominant 69 percent stake in the club, but has also proposed allowing Avram and Joel – two of the siblings who are confused about selling and want to stay – to retain a minor amount of shares.