Billionaire who bid for Man Utd backs Sir Jim Ratcliffe: He’s superior to Glazers

Carlo Garganese

• 21 Apr 2024 11:30 BST
• 4 min read

Finnish billionaire Thomas Zilliacus has praised new Manchester United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and believes he can improve the fortunes of the club.

Zilliacus launched a takeover bid for United but eventually pulled out of the race, allowing Ratcliffe to acquire minority ownership of the club.

Ratcliffe has subsequently assumed control of footballing matters at Old Trafford, while majority owners the Glazers continue to boast majority ownership and financial control of the club.

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The 68-year-old Zilliacus is supportive of Ratcliffe, although he recognises that the Glazers ultimately still call the shots at United.

What did Zilliacus say?

"It's a good question if Man United are now in good hands,” Zilliacus said in an interview with The Italian Football Podcast.

“I would argue that Man United are still in the same hands as before, which is the Glazers’ hands, as they own 75% and Sir Jim Ratcliffe owns 25%.

"My understanding is that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been given if not full authority, then the main authority on the football side of things, which I think is a positive thing.

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"He is as far as I know a lifelong fan of the club, he lives in England, he understands football.

“So, his ability to build the club and to help the club in a way that the fans like is of course far superior to the Glazers who apparently never really took any interest in the club and its well-being seeing it only as a financial investment."

Zilliacus and his company XXI Century Capital have been trying to break into European football and were also interested in buying Inter Milan.

However, Zilliacus has had to step back from his interest in Inter after a Singapore arrest warrant and an Interpol Red Notice were issued against him earlier this year in regards to his business dealings.

“No, I’m not out of the race to buy Inter because I want to be out of the race,” he explained.

“One of the byproducts of all this negative publicity of these ridiculous stories about Interpol, my arrest and this and that, is that of course it affects people who read it.

“So, the result was, some investors in the consortium that I had put together withdrew and told me that it’s until this thing is settled.

“I had to therefore announce that I could no longer proceed because of these false claims, because as I explained earlier, they are false claims. So, I had to, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to. It was a storm in a waterglass. But yes, until this situation has been resolved I’m not involved in buying any club.”