According to Fabrizio Romano, OGC Nice owner Jim Ratcliffe is ready to purchase a 25% ownership stake in Manchester United. This is following the withdrawal of Qatari billionaire Sheikh Jassim’s bid to purchase the club. The British billionaire would make Manchester United the third club in his portfolio, with the mogul already having controlling stakes in Nice and Lausanne.
Ratcliffe wants to obtain control over the sporting infrastructure and decision-making should his bid to buy 25% of the club be successful, Fabrizio Romano reports. The INEOS owner also has ambitions to complete a major ownership takeover in the future following his initial purchase of the proposed 25%. Ratcliffe has previously tried to complete a full takeover of United but these attempts ultimately failed.
The Glazer family and members of the Manchester United board will vote on whether to approve Ratcliffe’s bid in the coming days. The implications the proposed minority takeover could have on Nice remain to be seen with UEFA showing differing views on multi-club ownership in recent times.
GFFN | Liam Wraith
