MANCHESTER UNITED’s potential new Qatari owners arrived for a tour of their prospective purchase this morning.
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a member of the Gulf state’s ruling royal family, has tabled a bid believed to be under the Glazers’ £6billion asking price.
JOHN MATHER/IMAGE VIEWPHOTOGRAPHYRepresentatives of Man Utd’s potential new Qatari owners were at Old Trafford this morning[/caption]
JOHN MATHER/IMAGE VIEWPHOTOGRAPHYThe Middle East group received a tour of the ground and the training HQ[/caption]
JOHN MATHER/IMAGE VIEWPHOTOGRAPHYThey arrived at the Theatre of Dreams in a convoy of black motors[/caption]
JOHN MATHER/IMAGE VIEWPHOTOGRAPHYThey arrived at the Theatre of Dreams in a convoy of black motors[/caption]
JOHN MATHER/IMAGE VIEWPHOTOGRAPHYThe reps are also believed to have met staff from several departments at Man Utd[/caption]
Al Thani’s bid is reportedly worth £5bn but he is promising to wipe the club’s debt and fund upgrades for both Old Trafford and Carrington.
One of Britain’s richest men, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and his Ineos group also made a bid.
Locally-born United supporter Ratcliffe, 70, has pitched that he will put “Manchester back into Manchester United” with a “British bid to make the club a beacon for a modern, progressive, fan-centred approach to ownership.”
Now all interested parties have been told that they have 10 days to submit their next offer to purchase the club.
However, representatives from the Qatari offer were spotted outside of Old Trafford earlier today as they attended presentations by the club.
The officials representing the Middle East were believed to be meeting staff members of various departments, including football, financial and commercial as well as receiving a tour of the Theatre of Dreams and the Carrington training ground.
Both the stadium and training HQ are in need of a revamp, and the trip will have allowed them to assess how much would be needed for a makeover.
Rival Sir Jim and his representatives will get their turn tomorrow before second offers will then be invited to be made to the US bank Raine Group, who are handling the sale on behalf of the Glazers.
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They will then consult with American owners before determining who their preferred bidder is and then giving them full access to United’s accounts and then further negotiations could take place.
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani was not in attendance himself earlier.
But his team of execs from Bank of America, who are acting for the Qatari and lawyers, travelled up by train from London to the North West instead.
Ratcliffe, who owns Ineos and Ligue 1 side Nice, is believed to be jetting in himself on Friday from Southern France.
And two other bidders that are believed to be from the USA are also allegedly in the frame and will be doing the same.
JOHN MATHER/IMAGE VIEWPHOTOGRAPHYA team of execs from Bank of America, who are acting for the Qatari and lawyers, were in attendance[/caption]
JOHN MATHER/IMAGE VIEWPHOTOGRAPHYThey were spotted assembling outside of the club megastore this morning[/caption]
AFPSheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is believed to have bid around £5bn[/caption]
PASir Jim Ratcliffe and his team will get their tour of United on Friday[/caption]
