Sir Jim Ratcliffe aims brutal dig at Sheikh Jassim after beating him in Man Utd takeover battle

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has aimed a brutal dig at Sheikh Jassim after becoming a co-owner of Manchester United.

On Tuesday, Man United confirmed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has completed his investment in the club after receiving approval from the Premier League and Football Association.

Ratcliffe - founder and president of chemicals company INEOS - has purchased 25 per cent of United's A shares and 25 percent of their B shares.

The deal is worth a reported £1.3 billion, with the British billionaire to inject several hundred million pounds in order to improve the club's infrastructure and redevelop Old Trafford.

After the Glazer family put the club up for sale in late 2022, Ratcliffe was involved in a drawn-out bidding war with Sheikh Jassim of Qatar, who wanted to become the club's majority owner.

Jassim eventually withdrew from the race, leaving Ratcliffe as the only candidate. The 71-year-old decided to become a minority shareholder rather than aim for a complete takeover.

On Wednesday Ratcliffe spoke to the media for the first time since his minority takeover became official.

The billionaire covered a range of topics, and also took an unexpected swipe at his one-time bidding rival, Jassim.

"Still nobody's ever seen him, actually," Ratcliffe said about Jassim, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.

"The Glazers never met him. He never... I'm not sure he exists!

"I think it's extraordinary, really. But I agree with that - it was confounding.

"I didn't ever meet them. But it was it was a very odd affair."

Ratcliffe made another shock statement when he left the door open for Mason Greenwood to return to Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old attacker joined LaLiga side Getafe on loan last summer upon the conclusion of United's internal investigation into the player's conduct.

Last February, the Crown Prosecution Service discontinued its case against Greenwood for attempted rape, assault, and coercive control upon the withdrawal of a key witness and the emergence of new information.

Topics: Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sheikh Jassim, Premier League

Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton is a Sports Trends Writer at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He enjoys running, cooking and watching non-league football.

@alex_brotherton