QATAR'S SHEIKH JASSIM REFUSES TO RAISE $6 BILLION MANCHESTER BID

Reuters 

Qatar's Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani has informed the Glazer family that controls Manchester United Plc (MANU.N) that he will not improve on his bid to acquire the iconic soccer club for more than $6 billion, people familiar with the matter said.

The move leaves the remaining bidder for Manchester United, Ineos chairman Jim Ratcliffe, in a stronger position. He has offered to buy only a 25% stake in the club, allowing some of the Glazers to cash out, and it remains unclear whether he will clinch an agreement.

The exact value that Ratcliffe's bid infers on Manchester United could not be learned, but the sources said it was higher than Jassim's offer of more than $6 billion. Manchester United is currently valued by the stock market at $3.3 billion.

MAN UTD TAKEOVER: THE GLAZERS REFURE TO FOLLOW NORMAL PROTOCOL RISKING QATAR BACKLASH

Getty 

Man Utd takeover: The Glazers risk Qatari backlash as the sale process nears its conclusion.

The Glazers don't plan to follow the standard procedure at the conclusion of the Manchester United takeover process, according to reports. And it risks Qatari backlash after Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani set a strict deadline with his improved fifth bid earlier this week.

Reports state that leading bidders Sheikh Jassim and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe expect to learn the Glazers' sale decision in the coming days.

Ratcliffe has been considered the frontrunner due to his takeover bid allowing the Glazer family to retain a minority share in United.

However, it's said there is growing optimism in Qatar after Sheikh Jassim's fifth and final offer for a full sale rivalled the value of the INEOS top dog's approach.

An update claims that the Glazers don't plan to replicate the procedure the Raine Group took in the closing stages of Chelsea's final sale.

- Alex Turk

 

CRISTIANO RONALDO ON THE GLAZER'S AND WHY HE BANKED ON GARY NEVILLE

MAN UNITED GAME AXED AFTER ANTI-GLAZER PROTESTS

MANCHESTER UNITED: MASHABIKI WAKASIRIKA FAMILIA YA GLAZER KUPATA £16 MILIONI KAMA GAWIO

Kikundi cha mashabiki wa Manchester United wamekasirika kusikia familia ya Glazer itapata pesa nyingi kama dividend...Ni mara ya kwanza Man U wanatoa gawio la shares toka timu hiyo iuze share zake mwaka 2002 kwenye soko la hisa la New York Stock Exchange...Mashabiki hao wanalalamika kwanini familia ya Glazer ipate pesa wakati imewaingizia hasara timu...Familia ya Glazer inamiliki 83% ya Man U...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.