Sheikh Jassim drops biggest hint yet that Manchester United takeover is close

Manchester United fans have been given the clearest hint yet that Sheikh Jassim is going to win the race to buy the club.

It feels like years have passed since the Glazer family announced their intention to sell United but in reality it's been about eight months.

The process of bidding has been a long-winded affair but, throughout the process, Sheikh Jassim of Qatar and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been the two frontrunners to complete a takeover.

In recent weeks, the odds have begun to tilt in Jassim's favour and on Thursday, news broke that makes him the firm favourite to take over.

The news emerged that a firm called Nine Two UK Holdings was incorporated and registered at Companies House. The incorporation date was Thursday, June 15, and Jassim was listed as one of the two directors of the firm.

All 100 shares in the new UK company are held by Nine Two Holdings LLC in Doha, Qatar.

While the company name should come as no surprise, the Qatari banker announced in February that his bid would be carried out through the Nine Two Foundation, a reference to United's famous Class of '92.

The fact that the firm was incorporated on Thursday, days after reports emerged that Jassim had been chosen as the preferred bidder, is interesting.

The Sheikh is thought to have bid more than £5.5 billion to take complete control of United, while Ratcliffe proposed to take majority control while leaving some members of the Glazer family with influence over the club.

Having called for the Glazers to sell the club for years, most United fans have thrown their support behind Jassim.

Protests against the Glazers have continued throughout the prolonged sale. Image: Alamy

Speaking on Thursday morning in a video posted to social media, United club legend Rio Ferdinand said the Jassim takeover was close to completion.

"The Qatari takeover is something that we’ve been waiting for a long time," he said.

"We’re hearing that it’s close, within a matter of days it will happen, if not hours.

"Fingers crossed that it is right, I’ve got it from a good source that it is true."

However, before United fans get too excited, they must acknowledge that this could be a false alarm.

Jassim setting up a UK holding company could just be a step he has taken so that everything is ready to complete a deal, should the moment arise.

It is not uncommon for firms to be set up but not become active because deals fall through.

On Twitter, journalist Ben Jacobs pointed out: "Important to note, despite the excitement, that the paperwork for Nine Two UK Holdings Limited was sent to Companies House months ago.

"A lot of people getting excited about the date of incorporation (15 June). But this was initiated long before Qatar's last two offers."