“We can confirm that our offer has been submitted”, told AFP a source close to the Qatari Sheikh, Jassim Bin Hamad al Thani, following the second phase of the auction to acquire Manchester United. Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of Ineos and OGC Nice, also participated, according to the English press.
The first call for tenders had resulted in valuations around 5 billion euros, while the Glazer family, which owns the club, expects 7. Still according to the English media, the offers this time reached or slightly exceeded the 5 billion pounds (5.7 billion euros).
This sum is a record for a collective sports club in the world, but remains below what the American owners are hoping for, which maintains uncertainty regarding the rest of the sale process.
“The next steps will depend on the seller, we do not expect an immediate response”told the same source to AFP.