{"id":57150,"date":"2023-04-12T10:57:46","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T10:57:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/04\/12\/manchester-united-sale-goes-to-third-round-of-bidding\/"},"modified":"2023-04-12T10:57:46","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T10:57:46","slug":"manchester-united-sale-goes-to-third-round-of-bidding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/04\/12\/manchester-united-sale-goes-to-third-round-of-bidding\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester United sale goes to third round of bidding"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Manchester United were put up for sale in November
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The potential sale of Manchester United has gone to a third round of bidding.<\/p>\n

Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim and Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe both\u00a0submitted a second bid\u00a0to buy the Old Trafford club last month, with Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus also saying he had submitted a bid.<\/p>\n

The Glazer family, who bought the club for \u00a3790m in 2005, announced they were considering selling in November.<\/p>\n

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The Americans have established a valuation of \u00a35bn-6bn for United.<\/p>\n

The second stage ended last month with uncertainty over whether the process had reached the point of exclusivity being granted.<\/p>\n

It is understood the Glazer family, who said they were considering selling to \u201cexplore strategic alternatives\u201d, have now opted to extend the process.<\/p>\n

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This means potential purchasers, either of the whole club or just a partial stake \u2013 an option believed to be appealing to bidders from Elliott Investments \u2013 must put more offers forward in the hope of concluding a deal.<\/p>\n

It had been initially hoped the process being run by the Raine Group would be completed by the end of the season, but the additional time for new bids means that is now unlikely to happen.<\/p>\n

Sheikh Jassim will be expected to submit a new bid to buy 100% of the club, with Ratcliffe having followed a strategy of attempting to purchase the Glazer family\u2019s 69% shareholding.<\/p>\n

The Glazer family do have the option of retaining ownership, although the finance required to improve stadium infrastructure would be brought into sharp focus if, as expected, Old Trafford misses out on being part of the UK and Ireland\u2019s bid to host Euro 2028. Manchester City\u2019s Etihad Stadium and Everton\u2019s new ground are predicted to be the north west stadiums chosen.<\/p>\n

It is estimated rebuilding Old Trafford on its current site would cost a minimum \u00a31bn.<\/p>\n

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