SUMMARY
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe has officially acquired a 25% share in Manchester United.
- Sheikh Jassim, member of Qatar's royal family, also eyed for ownership of Manchester United.
A lot has been happening with one of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, Manchester United. One of the major factors was their ownership issue which has now been partially dealt with. After the agreement was formally authorized, Sir Jim Ratcliffe finally acquired his twenty-five percent share in Manchester United. This is one of the significant days in the club’s history as they will be under a new co-owner after almost 20 years.
Ratcliffe had previously reached an agreement to take over the soccer operations of the club in exchange for paying the Glazer family around £1.3 billion ($1.6 billion) for their 25% ownership. Although regulatory agencies would need to approve the purchase, the agreement was reached on December 24.
WHAT A SPEECH FROM SIR JIM 🙌 pic.twitter.com/yXeXZ8gh7c
— mufcmpb (@mufcMPB) February 21, 2024
On the contrary, Ratcliffe and his team were in a battle with Qatar’s businessman Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani. However, many fans as well as Sir Jim Ratcliffe himself have been wondering whether or not Sheikh Jassim exists. The answer is Yes, he does exist and is one of the most successful businessmen in Qatar.
Who is Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani?
The age of Sheikh Jassim as of February 2024 is 44. He was born in Doha, Qatar, on August 25, 1978. He is among the most well-known members of the royal family in Qatar. His quest to join Manchester United also made him more well-liked since people were curious about his upbringing and family history.
Sheikh Jassim does exist, @mjcritchley can confirm.
Backgrounder from last June on an admittedly enigmatic character ⬇️#MUFChttps://t.co/S9yceaD59x
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) February 21, 2024
Jassim belongs to the royal family of Qatar. He is one of the numerous offspring of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, a prominent figure in Qatar. Jassim is the first child of Sheikh Hamad’s second wife, Buthaina bint Hamad Al Thani, and his third son overall.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe shares his views on Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim
After completing his partial ownership of Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe took a subtle jab at his fellow competitor Sheikh Jassim. In his first series of interviews since completing his 25 percent acquisition of United, which grants him authority over the sporting activities at Old Trafford, the British billionaire shared his thoughts on a variety of topics, including Sheikh Jassim.
When asked about Sheikh Jassim, the leader of a Qatari proposal that was long thought to be the front-runner, Ratcliffe joked: “Still nobody’s ever seen him [Jassim], actually. The Glazers never met him – I’m not sure he exists!” This was somewhat taken in a funny manner by the soccer community as well as the Manchester United fans.
🔴 “Would it help if Man City were found guilty of the 115 breaches they are accused of?”.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe: “I would not wish that upon them. I just want to smash them on the football field”. pic.twitter.com/BvcFn2CXcW
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 21, 2024
However, it remains to be seen now how Sir Jim Ratcliffe goes on and about with one of the biggest clubs in soccer. A lot of pressure will be on him to deliver and to catch their arch-rivals in the country, Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC.
