bid of nearly six billion euros

Manchester United, one of England’s biggest soccer clubs, may end up in Qatari hands. A consortium led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani has revealed it has made a bid for the club where Erik ten Hag is the coach. The intention is to take over 100 percent of the club.

Most Premier League clubs are in foreign hands. That is only not true of Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

“Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani confirms that he has made a bid for Manchester United Football Club,” a statement reads. No further details are given. According to reports in the English media, the amount involved would be close to six billion euros. Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB).

In 2019, the Saudi royal family offered 3.5 billion for Manchester United.

The American owners of the soccer club are considering a sale, the listed English club announced in November. This would end a seventeen-year period in which the Glazer family ruled United.

For years, United supporters have been calling for a different owner from the Glazers, who are also major shareholders in American football club Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The family has owned the English soccer club since 2005.

Manchester United’s players include Dutchmen Wout Weghorst, Donny van de Beek and Tyrell Malacia.

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s company reported earlier in the bidding process for the acquisition. Ratcliffe also works closely with Formula One team Mercedes with his chemical group Ineos.

Ratcliffe also tried to take over Chelsea from Roman Abramovich last year, but failed. The Russian sold the club to an American consortium around Todd Boehly.