Sir Jim Ratcliffe has confirmed he has launched a bid to take over majority ownership of Manchester United.
Britain's richest man, who is the chairman of INEOS, has formalised his interest in wresting control from the Glazer family, who announced the Red Devils were up for sale in November. Ratcliffe confirmed he was pursuing a takeover in January and he is one of the parties that tabled a bid for the club ahead of the soft deadline for offers on Friday.
A statement released on Saturday lunchtime read: "Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have submitted a bid for majority ownership of Manchester United Football Club. We would see our role as the long-term custodians of Manchester United on behalf of the fans and the wider community.
"We are ambitious and highly competitive and would want to invest in Manchester United to make them the number one club in the world once again. We also recognise that football governance in this country is at a crossroads. We would want to help lead this next chapter, deepening the culture of English football by making the club a beacon for a modern, progressive, fan-centred approach to ownership.
"We want a Manchester United anchored in its proud history and roots in the North-West of England, putting the Manchester back into Manchester United and clearly focusing on winning the Champions League."
Ratcliffe, 70, is a boyhood United fan and will face plenty of competition to take over control of the club. A group of Qatari investors have also lodged a bid to buy the club and they are said to be confident they can put together the most attractive package for the Glazers.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is the chairman of one of Qatar's biggest banks, confirmed on Friday evening that he was heading up a bid that is "completely debt free". A statement read: "Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani today confirmed his submission of a bid for 100 per cent of Manchester United Football Club.
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"The bid plans to return the Club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and – above all – will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once more. The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the Club supports.
"The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world. More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops."
