Manchester United could still be taken over by Sheikh Jassim and the Qataris after a lesser-known clause saw the club creep back onto the market. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Jassim were front and centre of a public bidding process for United back in 2023, when the Glazers decided to sell a minority part of the club.
It’s reported by The Daily Mail that United returned to the market on August 13 because of a clause in the deal that saw Ratcliffe take 25 per cent of the club last year. It’s known as a ‘drag-along right’ and the purpose is to prevent minority shareholders from blocking deals that the majority shareholders want to go through.
It was agreed in the negotiations that such a clause would come into play 18 months after Ratcliffe’s INEOS invested in the Premier League side. In this specific scenario involving United, it would mean Ratcliffe wouldn’t be able to prevent the Glazers from selling up and cashing in on United.
The outlet claims that while Jassim is aware of the clause and has kept an eye on the situation, those close to the Qatari camp believe he has “zero interest” in acting upon it. Instead, it’s suggested the bigwigs in Qatar have turned attention to new projects, including an attempt to hosst the 2036 Olympic Games.
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