Old Trafford could be set for new blood at the boardroom level after British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made known his interest in purchasing a stake in Manchester United.
It was reported an hour ago by Sky Sports and other outlets that the Glazer family ownership of the club was open to adding new investors into the mix by selling a minority ownership stake in the club during a summer of considerable turmoil in the northwest of England.
And it did not take Ratcliffe long to respond in kind with his own interest, with reports surfacing that the 69-year-old Failsworth native was keen on becoming heavily involved at the ownership level.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to buy a stake in Manchester United, spokesman tells @DickinsonTimes: “If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer”, told The Times. 🚨 #MUFC
“If was possible, we’d be interested in talking with a view to long-term ownership”, added. pic.twitter.com/CQCxfdUbJT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 17, 2022
Moreover, not only is Ratcliffe interested in gaining a minority stake in the United, but there is a view from his end that he could look to craft his way into taking full control of the club in the long term, according to The Times:
“A spokesman for the Ineos billionaire confirmed that Ratcliffe would welcome the chance to talk to the club’s American owners. “If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer,” the spokesman said.
Ineos was reacting to a Bloomberg story that claims the Glazers are considering selling a minority stake in the club, with the news prompting a sharp rise in shares even as the team struggles at the bottom of the Premier League table after a disastrous start to the Erik ten Hag era.”
According to Forbes as of the calendar year, Ratcliffe has a net worth of $ 15 billion, and would undoubtedly be able to afford either a tiered purchase or an outright massive bid should the situation come to that.
Ineos – one of the world’s largest chemical producers which is a “significant player in the oil and gas market” – was listed as making a $15 billion turnover as of 2019.
Should a bid materialize in the near future, United’s fortunes could certainly change almost overnight.
