Manchester United: Sir Jim Ratcliffe told by Glazers club not for sale
The Glazer family told Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, that they don’t want to sell Manchester United. However, Sir Jim is still interested in buying a Premier League team.
Ratcliffe, who is 69, tried to buy Chelsea in May but failed.
The billionaire met Joel and Avram Glazer, who own the French club Nice and the Swiss club Lausanne through their company, Ineos.
Ratcliffe said, “The six children of the father own it, and they don’t want to sell.”
He said at a Financial Times Live conference, “I’ve met Joel and Avram, and they are the nicest people I’ve ever met. They act like proper men.
“If it had been for sale in the summer, we probably would have tried, especially after what happened with Chelsea.
“But we can’t just wait around and hope Manchester United will become available one day.”
Since 2005, the Glazer family has owned United.
In May of last year, their Premier League home game against Liverpool had to be moved because United fans had planned a protest against the owners.
In August of this season, thousands of fans marched to Old Trafford to protest before the same game.
Ratcliffe, who was born in Lancashire and owns most of the chemical company Ineos, made a late bid for Chelsea worth £4.25bn but lost to a group of investors led by the American Todd Boehly.
Ratcliffe said in a BBC Sport interview after that offer that he used to be a United fan but now has “split loyalties” between the two clubs.
He said that he was still looking for a Premier League team because “football is the most popular sport in the world and the sport closest to us.”
So we should have something of value. Not a Premiership club, but a top club, in my opinion.”
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