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.
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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.
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.
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