17 Feb 2023 21:19:35
We have public confirmation of a Qatari bid for the club.

A statement said: "Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani today [Friday February 17] confirmed his submission of a bid for 100 per cent of Manchester United Football Club. "

"The bid plans to return the club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and - above all - will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once more. "


"The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim's Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the club supports. "

"The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world. "

"More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops. "

What does everyone think of this?

1.) 17 Feb 2023
17 Feb 2023 21:49:23
Sounds promising. I would say that the owners of City and PSG were very good for their football club. Newcastle the same. I can only judge anyone though after they own the club and begun to deliver.

2.) 17 Feb 2023
17 Feb 2023 21:56:22
So be it. As fans, we’ve got zero control of our club. You either accept the take over or you don’t.

Personally. I’m gradually falling out of live with top level football. The moneys obscene. It’s not for the fans.

I admire and watch the top teams performing at an extremely high level but I also despise the money in the PL.

I’ve loved United since I was a nipper and my uncle taught me all about Munich. I’ve been fortunate to see us compete for trophies and I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some unbelievable nights at OT.
I’ll be down wembley way next week with the lads blindly supporting our boys but I’m feeling more and more out of touch with the club as the years go on. I love United but I’m struggling to be a football fan recently.

3.) 17 Feb 2023
17 Feb 2023 22:01:06
Shappy, I would welcome them if they deliver on their promises, which I'm sure they will.
Investment in stadium, training ground, squad and local community, will be great.
My biggest wish is that they leave the footballing side to ETH and his coaches and not turn us into a circus with more Ronaldo-like signings.
Let's face it, any owner will be better than the Glazers. The Qataris, like the rest of the Arab world, are nuts about football. So, that'll be a breath of fresh air.

4.) 17 Feb 2023
17 Feb 2023 22:45:32
AaA I don't think ETH would put up with it if they start that craic.
He would be on his toes.
Sounds like this chap is serious about it and the statement sounds promising.
Looking forward to seeing how it all pans out.
Some won't be happy and will stop supporting but I reckon they'll fill those seats no problem.

5.) 17 Feb 2023
17 Feb 2023 22:51:18
Don’t think they’d be allowed to spend obscenely now anyway - FFP getting really strict now.

Like the promise of investing in youth though, and investing in both men’s and women’s teams.

6.) 17 Feb 2023
17 Feb 2023 22:56:39
The Glazers promised the earth. That went well. Just saying.

7.) 17 Feb 2023
17 Feb 2023 23:00:31
Jim Rathcliffe bid in too. Apparently he will bid through INEOS with the help from Goldman Sachs and J. P Morgan and would not add any debt onto the club.

I might be reading too much into this but I would assume the current debt would stay and he would be borrowing money to purchase the club.

Also his statement of "I want to put Manchester back into Manchester United" smacks of "Let's make America great again" nonsense.

8.) 17 Feb 2023
17 Feb 2023 23:00:39
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is a lifelong Manchester United fan.

Many say that the Nine Two Foundation is a reference to class of 92.

9.) 18 Feb 2023
17 Feb 2023 23:17:33
Ken you are definitely irish . craic.

10.) 18 Feb 2023
18 Feb 2023 08:16:51
Will be interesting to see who is the real money funding Sheikh Jassim's 92 Foundation.

His family's personal net worth is only around $2billion, and the investment needed to buy, clear the debt, rebuild the stadium will probably be north of £7billion.

11.) 18 Feb 2023
18 Feb 2023 08:50:18
I have mixed feelings about Arab ownership for various reasons.
That said it's clear that we as a club are about to become a power house again. The rest of football will be getting very worried I expect but so long as we keep the traditions embedded in the club such as the attitude toward bringing youth through we'll be right.
Whoever the new owners are if they stand by their statements of intent for MUFC it's onwards and upwards for us and hopefully the Arab world will change their attitudes to human rights. GGMU.

12.) 18 Feb 2023
18 Feb 2023 09:01:34
I think you got it wrong Grim. You're probably talking about Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Also, it's most definitely a family bid. The family's net worth is estimated to be just around $335billion (£275bn)

13.) 18 Feb 2023
18 Feb 2023 13:01:04
Tamim is Jassim's younger brother.

14.) 18 Feb 2023
18 Feb 2023 13:01:13
Couldn't give a toss who owns us. Couldn't care about the morality of the issue. No person rich enough to buy a football club is going to be of upstanding character and morals.

15.) 18 Feb 2023
18 Feb 2023 15:38:54
I cannot support anyone, any bidder, who would leave the club with debt and that includes Jim Ratcliffe. This is a once in a generation opportunity and continuing debt would be unacceptable, no matter what fancy statement they make. If the Qatari’s do what they say I would expect the vast majority will be very happy.

We need the leeches out, 100% gone.

16.) 18 Feb 2023
18 Feb 2023 17:07:01
I agree redman. But we could be about to see the Glazer's coup de gras. They use US based funding at other sports clubs and will need it in the future. Maybe they might choose a bid that gives them a huge wedge and keeps JP Morgan or Chase earning billions of interest into the future?

No idea what any of these owners would mean to the club. Only hindsight will truely tell the story.

It looked like city have good owners. If the charges stick it will be a huge black mark against them - for what looks like impatience in the process.

17.) 18 Feb 2023
18 Feb 2023 18:04:53
Ken, I agree. They are all football lovers and ETH is as determined as a bull in a China shop. If they come and back him, then I'm sure we're heading for the good times.
They are serious about their football, and they want to be the best as that's a great honour in the Arab world.
Let's get them in and move our club into the 21st century.