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LONDON. — British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to buy Manchester United in a dramatic takeover.
And he was hailed as the “perfect” man to take on the crisis club by Red Devils legend Viv Anderson. Current owners the Glazer family are said to be open to selling a minority stake in the English Premier League crisis club, which has a reported total value of £5billion.
Pressure has been mounting for something to give following huge fan protests against the family in recent years.
Supporters marched on Old Trafford with anti-Glazers banners and flares before the season opener against Brighton, with fresh protests set for Monday’s game against Liverpool.
And Ratcliffe, one of the richest people in Britain, would jump at the chance to invest in the Old Trafford side and take “full control”.
Ratcliffe – who is believed to be worth around £11bn – would even want to purchase the entire club outright if the Glazers decided to sell completely and is ready to pay what is required to overhaul the squad and modernise the crumbling 76 000-seater stadium.
A spokesperson said: “If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer.
“If something like this was possible, we would be interested in talking with a view to long-term ownership.
“This is not about the money that has been spent or not spent.
“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.” Former United star Anderson said: “Sir Jim is a Salford boy, no matter how much money he has made. He knows the heart of the club, he knows the hearts of the fans.
“Sir Jim is a Manchester United man, through and through, and he would just be the perfect man to take over the club.
“The Glazers have had their moment — they have had their time at Manchester United. “I would back Sir Jim to take over and I know the millions of United supporters around the world would do so, too.”
And as a United fan Ratcliffe will be horrified by the way the club have started under Erik ten Hag. A lack of investment from the top has seen United resort to seeking cut-price deals for the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Adrien Rabiot – both of which have now collapsed.
Not only that, Ten Hag is having to deal with an unhappy Cristiano Ronaldo too.
The Dutchman is open to letting the 37-year-old wantaway star leave the club, while the Glazers want him to stay. — The Sun.
Online Reporter