Sheikh Jassim rules out fresh Man Utd bid as Glazers weigh partial sale

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s Qatari consortium has ruled out a second takeover attempt at Manchester United, with sources describing the group as still ‘scarred’ by their unsuccessful 2023 bid, according to Mail Online. The development comes as Bloomberg reports that some members of the Glazer family are actively considering selling their shares and have been trying to persuade other family members to follow suit.

Sheikh Jassim’s group had been among the frontrunners when the Glazers invited offers three years ago, but ultimately lost out to INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who completed a partial acquisition for approximately £1.3 billion. A fresh bid from the Qatari side is now described as ‘highly unlikely’.

A source close to the consortium previously indicated there was lingering regret over the failed deal. “In an ideal world, then maybe we paid a little more to get it done,” the source said. “But we had already done that on a number of occasions. We felt like we were being used and the goalposts continually changed. We felt like we had already gone above and beyond.”

In his 2023 public statement, Sheikh Jassim had outlined an ambitious vision for the club, pledging a debt-free takeover through his Nine Two Foundation and promising investment in the playing squad, training facilities, stadium infrastructure, and the fan experience. “The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world,” he said at the time.

The renewed speculation around United’s ownership comes against a backdrop of turbulence at Old Trafford since Ratcliffe’s arrival. Widespread redundancies have helped stabilise the club’s finances but generated significant supporter discontent, while a succession of managerial changes has added to the sense of instability. With some Glazer shareholders now reportedly willing to cash out, the question of who might step in — if not the Qatari group — remains unanswered.