Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the richest man in Britain, has registered his interest in buying a stake in Manchester United. The Glazers have become extremely unpopular among supporters in recent years, with the decline of the club causing progressively higher levels of unrest every year.
Ratcliffe’s spokesperson told The Times: “If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer.
“If something like this was possible, we would be interested in talking with a view to long-term ownership.
“This is not about the money that has been spent or not spent. Jim is looking at what can be done now and, knowing how important the club is to the city, it feels like the time is right for a reset.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe open to buying Manchester United stake
The 69-year-old came up with a late bid to buy Chelsea earlier this year, pitching that he had the finances to get the deal done quickly. However, the previous ownership stuck to the deadlines and have now passed on the club to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is now interested in buying a part of his hometown club, which could potentially help with the current issue of unrest among supporters.
Manchester United currently have debt worth around £500 million, which is mainly due to mismanagement courtesy of the Glazers. There has also been very little investment in maintaining Old Trafford, all of which has upset the fans. If the chance to buy the club is available, Ratcliffe is expected to be in line to get the deal over the line.
