Ratcliffe says he’s still in Man Utd takeover race amid claims Qatari deal close

SIR Jim Ratcliffe insists he is STILL in the race to buy Manchester United.

Britain’s richest man believes the “special” club is like “rare art” and his bid  is just what it needs.

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But Ratcliffe, who is locked in a £6billion battle with Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, knows he cannot force the Glazer family to sell to him.

Ratcliffe, who has met United’s owners “a couple of times,” explained: “I’ve signed an non-disclosure agreement so I can’t say too much.
“But there is still a process — and we are in the process.”

Despite asking for “third and final” bids at the end of April, the Glazers’ chosen deal-makers, the US-based Raine Group, then allowed both Ratcliffe’s and his Ineos petro-chemical giant and Sheikh Jassim to refine their offers.

Sheikh Jassim wants “100 per cent control” while Ratcliffe was prepared to offer to buy a majority stake which could allow current United co-chairman Joel and Avram Glazer to stay on for some time.

But more than a month after that point, there is still no decision and there is even the possibility that the Glazers might decide not to sell after all.

Ratcliffe added: “We have a good offer and we have met with the Glazers a couple of times.

“We have had good discussions with them. We would still very much like to do it. And we would be doing it for the right reasons.

“But in the end it is their decision not our decision.”

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Quizzed further over why he had spent so long in the race, Ratcliffe suggested the emotional appeal with the club he supported as a youngster living in Bolton was a key factor.

He said: “Teams don’t come around very often. There are some special teams and the value of them tends to go up.

“The value of teams like this one is very special and rare – like art.
“I don’t think the world of sport will change that much in ten years.

“It is one of our key interests – get the lads in the pub and football is one of the two or three subjects we ever talk about.

“It’s football. We’ve worked really hard all our lives. Now we’ve made a bit of money so you’re allowed to have some fun, so long as it’s sensible economically.”

And in a move that would appeal to the United fans, Ratcliffe also vowed he would not look to add his company name as part of a sponsorship deal to the stadium.

He added: “I hadn’t thought of that, but no. That would be heresy. I would not change it. It’s always Old Trafford.”

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