Feb 8 (Reuters) – Qatari investors plan to make a huge offer to buy Premier League club Manchester United, the Daily Mail newspaper reported on Tuesday, basing its information on anonymous sources.
The article described the investors as “a group of high net worth, private individuals” from Qatar, who hosted the 2022 World Cup.
United declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
Jim Ratcliffe’s company INEOS formally entered the bid to buy United last month after the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, said in November they had begun looking at options that included new investment or a possible sale.
Bloomberg News reported last month that Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), which owns Paris Saint Germain, was considering a buyout or buying a stake in Manchester United or rival Liverpool.
United fans have been clamoring for a change of ownership and the Glazers have been the target of intense criticism as the team last won a silver trophy in 2017, lifting the Europa League and UEFA Cup trophies. League.
In April, thousands of people protested outside Old Trafford, lighting flares and chanting to demand the Glazers leave the club.
United’s net debt, also a source of contention among fans, had grown to 515 million pounds ($620.42 million) in September.
The team, led by Erik ten Hag, is third in the league with 42 points after 21 games, three behind Manchester City but eight behind the leader, Arsenal, who has played one game less.
($1 = 0.8301 pounds)
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; editing in Spanish by Tomás Cobos)
