Qatar Eyeing Manchester United Takeover With The Oil-Rich Investors Ready To Back Erik ten Hag With Massive Transfer Funds
Feb 8, 2023 at 1:58 PM
According to the Daily Mail, Qatari investors are preparing an incredible mega-money offer for Manchester United as the club has been put on sale by current owners, the Glazers family. Daily Mail adds, a number of high-net-worth individuals based in the oil-rich state have their sights set on the Manchester club as they consider it to be ‘football’s crown jewels’ as a result of their inflated confidence after hosting the World Cup.
Moreover, the Qataris have bigger plans with Manchester United as they want to give manager Erik ten Hag the financial support he needs to take the team back to the top. While he has been made available with substantial transfer funds in buying the likes of Casemiro, Antony, Lisandro Martinez for a combined €230m amongst other, the Dutchman feels more money has to be injected in if the club is to compete for the Premier League alongside local rivals Manchester City.
Qataris ready for a full-fledged takeover of Manchester United
Qatar had confirmed last month their interest in expanding their sports empire to the Premier League, with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool having a ‘for sale’ board outside their premises. The CEO of Qatar Investment Authority [QIA] , Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, acknowledged Qatar’s intention in increasing its investment in football during the World Economic Forum in Switzerland last month.
The QIA would do so through their subsidiary, the Qatar Sports Investment which already owns French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). However, their ownership of PSG by is one potential obstacle between them and a Manchester United takeover. One organisation is not allowed to own two teams in the same league since the Red Devils and the Parisians might clash in Europe.
As a result, United would be the target of a separate, one-off bid from Qatari investors. The Qataris have no desire to acquire a small stake and only a full takeover is being contemplated. According to insiders, the company is looking for a new project to harness the experience they garnered from hosting the World Cup. Prior to the deadline set by the Glazers in mid-February, they will make a bid for United and are certain that their offer will outperform the opposition.
Their bid places a strong emphasis on fan interaction, and they may welcome the varying opinions of the fans about how they think the club should move forward and what renovations should their famous Old Trafford stadium should undergo in the future. Their manifesto also includes giving Ten Hag a transfer war chest so he could compete for high-profile signings with the richest clubs across Europe. The insider reveals:
“There are significant funds available. These people are serious. They want to make sure that United are where they should be and they are confident theirs will be the strongest bid. They want to strengthen the squad to put them back at the top but they also want this to be for the good of the community.
“They also want to build on the success of the World Cup. They recognise that Manchester United is the biggest football club in the world, the crown jewels, and there is a steely-minded determination to buy it and get it to where it should be.”
However, due to the concerns over the middle eastern nation’s human rights record, the takeover would require Premier League approval and would encounter opposition in some circles. They also face competition from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the richest man in Britain who is also running for a takeover. Sir Ratcliffe, a lifelong Manchester United supporter was the first to publicly announce his ambition to purchase the club, though other parties are certain to make offers as well.