Here are your morning headlines for Thursday, August 18.
Ratcliffe confirms he wants to buy Manchester United
It’s the news United fans have been dreaming of for some time. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a billionaire with the financial might to complete a takeover, has confirmed he wants to buy the club.
Hopes of a potential takeover were raised on Wednesday as it was revealed the Glazer family were open to selling a minority stake in the club. It remains to be seen whether they will be open to selling United, but Ratcliffe is one of the few people who could genuinely finance a takeover.
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And having previously talked down the idea of buying the club, a spokesperson for Britain’s richest man has confirmed he would now be interested. “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.”
What Ratcliffe has said about the Glazers and United
Ratcliffe hasn’t been shy about voicing his opinion of United’s current owners and the club’s current standing. A fan himself, the billionaire is one of the countless supporters unhappy with the Glazers.
He has previously described United as being in a “catastrophic” situation. And while he has previously played down talk of taking over, he has given a hint as to what his plan would be should he eventually invest.
When he attempted to stage a takeover at Chelsea earlier this year, Ratcliffe insisted he wouldn’t view it as a money-making enterprise. It’s an approach he would surely also take at United.
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