According to a report by Times Sport, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has an interest in buying a stake in Manchester United. In the long term, the billionaire would look to take complete control of the football club from the Glazers.
Now, journalist James Robson is claiming that he has been told that there is a growing confidence that the club could be put on the market by its current owners, with Ratcliffe just one of several interested parties.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe Interested in Buying Manchester United
Sir Jim Ratcliffe isn’t alone in being out on alert by the potential to buy out the Glazers.
Am told partial sale is less appealing to buyers, but there’s growing confidence #mufc will be on the market— James Robson (@jamesalanrobson) August 19, 2022
Who Is Sir Jim Ratcliffe?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a chemical engineer, business owner and billionaire from Lancashire. He gained his fortune by buying unwanted chemical operations across Europe, seeing their potential for greater earnings and converting them into profitable operations.
The businessman also has existing interests in sports. Ratcliffe owns FC Laussane-Sport in Switzerland, the Team Sky cycling team and made a bid for Chelsea when the Blues were up for sale earlier this year.
What Will the Fans Think?
One of the biggest trends of the Glazers’ ownership of the Red Devils is the size and scale of the protests against the regime. Fans see the owners as responsible for the club’s recent failings on the pitch and off it. This is the main inspiration behind the yellow and green scarf movement amongst some of the Old Trafford faithful.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a Manchester United Fan and has more than enough money to invest into this Club.
He doesn't think about getting profits or dividends from Clubs. He literally wants to rebuild our Club.
Retweet this for #SirJimRatcliffeIn and #GlazerOut 🔰
Enough is Enough pic.twitter.com/GiPNZ7Ttm7— Lens (@utdlens_) August 18, 2022
The club’s owners are also accused of taking money out of the club as the side’s football debt keeps rising. Manchester United’s current net football debt stands at £627 million. Meanwhile, directors and executives keep taking funds out of the club as dividends and bonuses. All football fans enjoy seeing investment. The club’s money going to the owners is the opposite of what the Old Trafford side needs to start winning again.
Will the Glazers Want to Sell?
Recent days have seen more and more people considering a purchase, with Sir Jim just one of a field of potential buyers. There was previously doubt as to whether the Glazers would ever sell the club, but as Robson reports, there is a growing sense that they may now be willing to put the team on the market.
