A new report has revealed previously unknown details about Manchester United bidder Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, including a nickname he has given himself.
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim is the favourite to buy United from the Glazers, with recent reports claiming his main rival – Sir Jim Ratcliffe – had fallen behind in the race to purchase the club.
Bloomberg's financial reporter, David Hellier, claimed this week that Ratcliffe's offer for United is 'dead in the water', with the club's minority shareholders unhappy with the terms offered.
Unlike Sheikh Jassim, who is attempting a full takeover, Ratcliffe's company INEOS is only looking to buy a controlling stake of over 50 per cent.
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Speaking to the United View, Hellier claimed Ratcliffe is proposing a 'structure which would buy out the Glazers - the majority shareholders - and not offer anything to the minority holders'.
The Guardian claim Sheikh Jassim has 'slipped ahead' of Ratcliffe in the race to buy United, although Raine – the banking group handling the sale on behalf of the Glazers – are yet to announce a preferred bidder, with talks ongoing with both parties.
Sources reveal details about Sheikh Jassim
Sheikh Jassim has kept a low profile during the sale process and chose not to visit Old Trafford to hold face-to-face talks with Raine, unlike Ratcliffe.
But fresh details about the Qatari banker have emerged following a new report from The Athletic.
It is claimed that Sheikh Jassim graduated from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1998 and later joined the senior management of Al Mirqab Capital, a family investment vehicle owned by his father, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.
He would later join the board of Credit Suisse, in April 2010, and was 'quiet at first' when he arrived at the company, according to a source.
It is claimed that executives had to 'help guide' the 44-year-old during his early days at the firm but that he proved to be 'bright and quick on the uptake'.
"He asked very good questions. He was very engaged," an insider told The Athletic.
It's claimed that in board meetings, the Qatari banker would refer to himself as 'JJ', sometimes even signing off documents with the nickname.
However, it was also claimed that Sheikh Jassim could sometimes be difficult to read.
One source claimed Sheikh Jassim would often switch languages to consult his fellow Arabic speakers, then switch back to English when ready to speak with the Westerners in the room again.
"Occasionally he'd come out with something and you think he was listening," added another source.
"Then occasionally he'd come out with something else and you think, no, he wasn't. Sometimes he really surprised you that he was on the pulse, then other times less so."
Topics: Manchester United, Sheikh Jassim, Football, Premier League
Rory O'Callaghan