Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s father has raised doubts over Qatar’s takeover bid of Manchester United.
Sheikh Jassim and Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe both submitted a bid to buy United last month after the Glazers announced a “strategic review” of the Old Trafford club.
Indeed, Oldham-born petrochemicals billionaire Ratcliffe has promised to put the ‘Manchester back in Manchester United’ with his proposal.
Meanwhile, his rival Sheikh Jassim has claimed he will wipe the club’s debt and finance a refurbishment of Old Trafford and the Carrington training ground.
However, both offers are thought to be below the £6billion asking price communicated by the Raine Group, the merchant bank handling the sale on behalf of the Glazers.
In turn, a period of negotiation is expected, with Joel and Avram Glazer also thought to be exploring selling a minority stake.
And it has now emerged that Sheikh Jassim’s father, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, has expressed doubts regarding his son’s bid.
Sheikh Jassim’s father expresses doubts over Man Utd takeover
Sheikh Hamad, the former Qatari prime minister appeared sceptical about his son’s opportunity to invest in United.
Moreover, he claimed that any takeover of the Old Trafford club would be seen as an investment rather than an attempt to promote Qatar.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg via the Athletic, before a Qatari bid was tabled, the 71-year-old said: “I am not a football fan.
“I don’t like this investment. Maybe it will work well. But you know, some of my sons like this, they always discuss it with me. They’re pushing hard. This isn’t my specialty.
“Let me put it like this: I am an investor. If it will one day be a good investment, I will think about it.
“I will not look at it as something you do just as an advertisement.”
As highlighted by the Athletic, Sheikh Hamad’s words are notable given Sheikh Jassim’s attempts to buy United will likely be funded predominantly by his father.
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