"Yes, we would..." - Multi-billionaire's comments resurface ahead of potential Man Utd takeover

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s past comments have resurfaced ahead of a potential Manchester United takeover bid.

Sir Jim will reportedly launch a bid to buy Man Utd after controversial club owners the Glazers announced they are ready to sell the club.

On Tuesday the Glazers announced they were “exploring strategic opportunities” for the club, which could include selling it.

Sir Jim, who founded chemical giant Ineos, is said to be readying a bid, having first expressed an interest in purchasing his boyhood club in the summer.

At the time, the Glazers had no intention of selling. Now he is set to prepare a fresh approach after Man Utd owners revealed they are open to offers, though it is believed there are concerns over the potential £5billion asking price.

Sir Jim’s past comments

Things change quickly in football. Last month Sir Jim spoke publicly about his summer interest in Man Utd for the first time.

At the time he insisted that the club was not on the market. He said: “I met with Joel and Avram [Glazer], and they are the nicest people, and they don't want to sell it.

“If it had been for sale in the summer, yes, we would 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.”

He has also previously stressed that he is unwilling to “squander money” on a football club, and in the same breath, had a pop at Man Utd’s Brazilian midfielder Fred.

When asked by the Times in 2019 if he would be willing to buy Man Utd Sir Jim said: “Not at the moment, no. They are in quite a big pickle as a business.

“They haven’t got the manager selection right, haven’t bought well. They have been the dumb money, which you see with players like Fred.

“So you quickly get into some pretty stratospheric numbers. And even though clubs have those valuations today, nobody has ever paid those amounts of money.

“How much did Abramovich pay for Chelsea, £100 million? The Glazers what £500 million? You can say it’s worth three, four billion but no one has ever paid those sums.

“Ineos has always tried to take a sensible approach. We don’t like squandering money or we wouldn’t be where we are today. It’s part of our DNA, trying to spend sensibly.”