Rio Ferdinand, former Manchester United player, expressed his belief that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s takeover bid for the club will soon be confirmed as successful.
The Qatari businessman is competing with Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, for the ownership of the club.
While Ratcliffe had been considered the favorite with his strategy of buying United, Sheikh Jassim’s proposal for a complete buyout of the club seems to have gained momentum.
Last week, Sheikh Jassim tabled an improved fifth bid for Manchester United, and if successful, the Glazer family, the current owners, would exit Old Trafford immediately.
Ferdinand, in an update on his Five YouTube channel, expressed his excitement and claimed to have inside information that Sheikh Jassim’s bid would be confirmed as successful in the coming days or even hours.
Ferdinand emphasized the importance of resolving the ownership situation before the transfer window opens, as it would determine the club’s ability to make significant investments in new players.
Is Rio right about the takeover?
He has eagerly awaited a bid acceptance every day, and now there are strong indications that it is close. Ferdinand’s hope is that the prolonged takeover saga will finally come to an end, allowing Manchester United to move forward under new ownership.
Previously, two of the Glazer siblings, Joel and Avram, preferred the option of bringing in an outside investor to buy a stake in the club for financing major projects such as the redevelopment of Old Trafford and the Carrington training ground.
However, a change of ownership now appears to be the likely outcome, as various US investment companies proposing minority investments are no longer viewed as favorable.
The Glazers have faced significant criticism from fans due to the large debts incurred from their leveraged buyout in 2005 and the team’s decline on the field, with United failing to win the Premier League title for over a decade.
The supporters are calling for the complete relinquishment of the Glazers’ control over the club.