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Topics: Football, Manchester United, Qatar, Premier League, Gary Neville
Chris Byfield
Topics: Football, Manchester United, Qatar, Premier League, Gary Neville
Sheikh Jassim will offer several Manchester United legends roles at the club should his takeover bid be successful.
The Qatari is competing with British petrochemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, to buy United from the Glazer family, who have owned the Premier League giants since May 2005.
It is understood that Sheikh Jassim, who is the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank, has submitted a £5billion bid for a 100 per cent stake in the Old Trafford club.
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Meanwhile, Ratcliffe’s Ineos group only want a controlling stake in United, though have reportedly placed a higher value on the club than Sheikh Jassim.
It has also been claimed that the Briton is prepared to controversially allow current co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer to retain some link with the club, in the form of a minority investment.
According to ESPN, United’s greatest players from the club’s most successful teams will be offered the chance to return to Old Trafford in prominent roles if Sheikh Jassim’s takeover bid is accepted.
Such a move would open the door for players from United’s 1999 treble winners, as well as leading figures from the club’s Champions League winning team of 2008, to represent the club at various levels.
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The publication claimed that the absence of United’s most renowned players at United is an issue that Sheikh Jassim is determined to address.
The Qatari allegedly wants the club to take advantage of the profile and experience of former greats just as clubs such as Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have done.
According to ESPN’s ‘sources’ several players from the treble winners and 2008 Champions League winning side have already been approached by Sheikh Jassim’s representatives to discuss the proposal.
While United currently employ former players Bryan Robson, Denis Irwin and Andrew Cole in ambassadorial roles, technical director Darren Fletcher is the only former star with a senior role at the club.