Wealthy Qatari Sheik Positioned to Acquire Manchester United Football Club
Football Tycoon Sheikh Jassim in the Running for Manchester United
Welcome to the buzzing world of high-stakes football, where fortunes are made and broken in a heartbeat. The latest player stepping onto the pitch is none other than Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, an investment banker and megabucks investor. With his strong bid, he's vying for a piece of the Manchester United Football Club pie.
Sheikh Jassim, known for keeping his cool and living life under the radar, is a die-hard football fan with a soft spot for Man U. His interest in the club has seen him tossing his hat into the sale ring. This deal, if it goes down, will set a new high-water mark for the price of a sports team.
Duel in the Aisle
Manchester United currently belongs to the American clan, the Glazers, who bought the club in 2005. Another heavyweight stepping up to the plate is Jim Ratcliffe, a British billionaire. Fans of the club have been itching for a change, allegedly displeased with the Glazers' management of the club.
Sheikh Jassim has promised to bring Man U back to the victorious days of yore. He plans to funnel his resources – financially and infrastructurally – into the club via a trusty vehicle named Nine Two Foundation. His bid is debt-free, and Man U is expected to fetch around $4.5 billion. The deal is under wraps, and it's been ensured that there'll be no ties to Qatar's government.
Who's the Guy?
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, born in Qatar in 1978, is a member of the Al Thani royal family. Son of former Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al Thani, affectionately known as HBJ, his wealth is rumored to be more than what Forbes reports ($1.3 billion). Educated in the UK, he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Sherborne International College in Dorset. He's a distant cousin of the current Emir.
Sheikh Jassim kick-started his career at Credit Suisse in 2010, at the tender age of 28, representing Qatari investors within the Swiss bank. Famous as a quiet and discreet individual who barely speaks during meetings, he's known for his sharp business acumen.
He has helmed the family investment portfolio of Mirqab Capital and currently commands prestigious positions, such as the presidency of QInvest and Qatar Islamic Bank, where he holds a majority stake.
Related Reads:
- Unveiling the UK's Football White Paper
- The European-leagues scene is abuzz as Sheikh Jassim, a well-known football fan and Qatari investor, shows interest in Manchester United, challenging Jim Ratcliffe, a British billionaire, for control of the premier-league club.
- Despite his low-key reputation, Sheikh Jassim's bid for Manchester United promisingly involves the Nine Two Foundation, a trusty vehicle he aims to use for injecting resources into the football club, hoping to bring back the days of victories to the premier-league team.
