The tumultuous sale process of English Premier League club Manchester United continues, with leading contenders Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani yet to reach a decisive stage. However, recent developments suggest that Ratcliffe might pivot his focus away from the English club.
A recent conversation with a source close to Football Insider indicated that Ratcliffe could potentially shift his interest to a club outside England if the bidding war for Manchester United drags on. FC Barcelona, a Spanish La Liga heavyweight, is apparently on Ratcliffe's radar.
"Sir Jim Ratcliffe seeks to make a lasting impact in the football world. Given that France's football market is rather small for global recognition, he needs to invest in a renowned club. Should his attempt to take over Manchester United fail, Barcelona would be an alternative," the source reportedly stated.
"However, overcoming Barcelona's existing Socios model, which is based on membership, would be a daunting task. Despite the challenges, it's something he's likely considering, especially given Barcelona's current financial predicament."
The Manchester United sale saga has seen Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim firmly in the spotlight since the former confirmed his bid in January. Ratcliffe, owner of the multinational company Ineos, proposed purchasing a 50 percent stake, with an additional 20 percent going to the current owners, brothers Avram and Joel Glazer.
Sheikh Jassim, on the other hand, presented a more aggressive offer, proposing to erase a $1.2 billion debt in exchange for total ownership of the club.
Both proposals could offer the Glazers an exit strategy from a controversial tenure. However, there's been no significant progress in reaching a resolution.
Earlier rumors suggesting a near-closure of the sale in Sheikh Jassim's favor turned out to be unsubstantiated, leaving the Glazers firmly in control.
Despite the persistent uncertainty, Ratcliffe has previously voiced confidence in his chances of securing Manchester United. Yet, the Glazers' reluctance to commit to a specific buyer has cast doubt among fans about the sale's outcome.
Rumors about Sheikh Jassim withdrawing his bid led to a significant drop in Manchester United's stock prices earlier this week, but these reports have since been discredited.
Given the current state of affairs, the Manchester United ownership bid appears to be a high-stakes standoff between Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim, with the victor yet to be decided.
