Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Manchester United, Qatar, Premier League
Ryan Smart
The Qatar Investment Authority is reportedly set to bid for Manchester United in its entirety - and past comments from the Emir of Qatar have now resurfaced.
The Telegraph claim that the bid will arrive 'by the end of the week', in time for the soft deadline of Friday set for interested parties.
It is reported that there is no interested bidder that can match the wealth of QIA - but there is a key issue to solve if they do take over the club.
Advert
The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is said to support the bid for United, as per talkSPORT's Alex Crook.
However, he currently owns PSG through Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), and UEFA rules state that two clubs owned by the same entity cannot play in a UEFA-backed competition, such as the Champions League. It is unclear at this stage as to what would happen in this respect if United are taken over by QIA.
Furthermore, BBC Sport claimed that PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also chairman of QSI, would play a key role in any Qatari ownership bid.
Advert
Again, however, it is unknown as to whether he would be able to have any direct involvement in the club were QIA to take control, given his role at PSG and as chairman of the European Club Association.
Now, amid reports of a takeover bid, comments made by the Emir of Qatar about the Premier League have reemerged.
Speaking in a 2003 interview (via Talal Almutairi / UtdPlug) - the same year he became heir apparent - the Emir was asked which team he supported, and which football leagues he followed most closely.
Advert
He replied: "I respect AC Milan, but I support another team.
"I follow and watch Spanish, Italian, French and German leagues. But since I had studied in the UK, I used to watch Premier League and I was attending games."
When asked which English team he supported, he said: "That is the question I didn't want you to ask. I like Premier League and enjoy watching and attending games in PL. It is a very strong competition."
It has been claimed by multiple reports that the Emir is, in fact, a United fan, and the Daily Mirror claim that he has been taking financial advice over potentially investing in the area surrounding Old Trafford.