The ongoing saga of Manchester United's sale has dominated headlines and captivated fans for much of the year. Now, confidence is growing among the team of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Qatari hopeful, that they are on the brink of success.
A recent report by the Qatar-based publication Al Raya claimed that the "Glazer family, current owners of Manchester United, is poised to sign the purchase agreement in the coming hours." The report further suggested that those close to Sheikh Jassim's bid are increasingly expressing optimism, with an official announcement seemingly on the horizon.
The contest for Manchester United's ownership has boiled down to Sheikh Jassim and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, proprietor of the multinational chemicals corporation Ineos and the associated Ineos Group. The latest significant twist in this takeover tale emerged in mid-June amid complications.
Sources close to the matter disclosed that the stock price of Manchester United experienced a notable rise of 3.45% "over the past five days," pushing share prices from $23.97 to $24.78. This uptick signals the anticipation of Sheikh Jassim's impending acquisition.
For fans of the Premier League titan, the stakes are high as the sale would mark the end of the Glazer family's control over the club. Many supporters attribute the recent struggles of Manchester United to the Glazers, who have owned 98 percent of the club since June 2005.
Despite being one of the most successful soccer teams during their tenure, fans' sentiment toward the American owners has progressively deteriorated. The Glazer reign saw the club's debt peak at £716.5 million ($910.43 million) in 2010.
Fan discontent reached a fever pitch in May 2021 when Manchester United supporters stormed the sacred grounds of Old Trafford, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled Premier League match against Liverpool.
This display of frustration coincided with the Glazers beginning to entertain the idea of selling the club, a decision that coincidentally fell on the same day as Cristiano Ronaldo's announced departure from Manchester United.
While no official bid has been submitted yet, the prospective sale of the legendary Premier League team remains a hot topic and is likely to continue to fuel speculation.
