Qatar's Manchester United takeover could monetize new Mideast fan base
A Qatari takeover of the English soccer club would “turbocharge” the global presence of the English Premier League, analysts told Al-Monitor
If Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s bid to buy Manchester United succeeds, he could capitalize on nearly all of the soccer club’s global fan base of 1.1 billion people, including its followers in the Middle East, a soccer finance expert told Al-Monitor.
Al Thani, a banker and the son of a former prime minister of Qatar, is the favorite to acquire Manchester United ahead of British businessman Jim Ratcliffe due to the potential business opportunities for the club’s current owners, the Glazer family, The Guardian reported on Wednesday.
After the sheikh's representatives met with the club's executives on Thursday, Al Thani was expected to make a second bid for the club, SkyNews reported. Ratcliffe, who is the owner of INEOS chemicals group, is meeting with the club executives on Friday.
Al Thani, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), is understood to be offering a 100% buyout of the club with no debt financing and a commitment to investment in infrastructure such as training facilities, the stadium and redevelopment around the Old Trafford area.
