Here we go again- another major breakthrough in the Manchester United Takeover Saga that is supposedly happening/going to happen soon. We’ll just have to wait and see if the Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrival announcement finally occurs.
Ratcliffe is investing £1.25 billion ($1.57bn) in MUFC, in exchange for a 25% ownership stake. The confirmation could come as early as Monday, reports ESPN. But then again, we’ve been here before.
Manchester United vs Chelsea FC FYIs
Kick: Wed. Dec. 6, 8:15 pm, Old Trafford
Starting XI Predictions: Chelsea FC Manchester United
Team News: Chelsea FC Manchester United
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
This very thing was supposed to happen three weeks ago, according to multiple reports. That’s been the nature of the #MUFCTakeover beast- everything drags on and on and on and on. It’s the Glazer family way.
World came out that the Glazers were going to put the club on the trading block back in August of 2022. In November of last year they made their formal announcement.
And yet here we are, well more than a year later and it’s been all talk and no action.
The consortium led by Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim was far more popular with club supporters than Ratcliffe, because their bid would have forced the Glazer family (who are deeply unpopular amongst a large portion of the base, as we see time and time again) out of the picture entirely.
And while the Glazers will still be staying put, and remain the ultimate authority at MUFC, not all hope is lost.
Certainly not on the football side of things, where Ratcliffe, Great Britain’s second richest person and founder of the chemical giant INEOS, will hold sway in roster building, transfer policy (the January transfer window opens in 26 days), coaching staff hires etc.
This is still a major opportunity for a huge makeover/rebuild of the club- especially so with current CEO and Glazer yes man Richard Arnold out the door.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now, while writing for the International Baseball Writers Association of America. You can follow the website on Twitter.