Businessman and CEO of chemical company Sir Jim Ratcliffe officially confirmed his interest in buying Manchester United on Tuesday.
In a sit-down interview with the Financial Times, Ratcliffe spoke about his interest in United, as well as business within football.
The 69-year-old has been reportedly keen to buy out the 20-time English champions, with the interview his first since such reports had come out.
Ratcliffe said: “I’m a lifelong Manchester United fan and I was there in ’99, that most remarkable match in ’99 in Barcelona and that’s deeply etched in my mind, but Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family, whom I have met.”
Since their takeover of United in 2005, the Glazers have often come under threat from the club’s fans, with the American’s having taken £1.1 billion out of the Premier League club.
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On his interest in buying United, Ratcliffe said: “I’ve met Joel and Avram and they are the nicest people, they’re proper gentlemen, and they don’t want to sell.”
Ratcliffe currently already owns Ligue 1 club OGC Nice, but earlier this summer, he did attempt to acquire the services of Chelsea after previous owner Roman Abramovic had been sanctioned by the UK Government.
“If it [Manchester United] had been for sale in the summer, yes we would’ve probably have had a go following on from the Chelsea thing, but we can’t sit around hoping one day, Manchester United will become available,” said Ratcliffe.
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It isn’t just football that the Englishman has invested into when it comes to sport, however.
The Manchester-born man also owns 1/3 of F1 team Mercedes, as well as cycling team Ineos Grenadiers, and he is very keen in purchasing what he dubbed an “asset in the sporting franchise and a premier club”.
Topics: Manchester United, Premier League
Aadam Haladh