Man Utd takeover: New Sheikh Jassim picture gets fans excited

Robin Bairner

• 12 Jun 2023 07:22 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United supporters hoping that the club’s takeover led by Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani is successful have received an unexpected boost with the release of what appears to be an image of the prospective new owner.

The Red Devils takeover process has dragged out for over six months since the Glazer brothers announced their intention to sell at least a portion of the club late in 2022, with a deal having initially been expected to be completed in a matter of months.

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Manager Erik ten Hag has grown frustrated by the lack of progress, particularly as the transfer window is now open and that he had wanted the bulk of his business to have been concluded by the time he welcomes the players back to pre-season training, which is due to begin in little over a fortnight.

The process is being spearheaded by two main rivals: Sheikh Jassim’s bid from Qatar and an offer from INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who already owns Ligue 1 side Nice.

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It had been Ratcliffe who had been thought to be leading the way on the takeover - largely because he is willing to bid a greater sum for the Old Trafford side, albeit over a more prolonged period of time – but there have been renewed claims in recent hours that the Qataris are increasingly confident of a deal being done.

These reports have coincided with a new picture of the Sheikh emerging. Images of him have been elusive, so this picture being made public feels significant in the takeover race.

Certainly, that is how Man Utd fans feel about it.

Man Utd fans react to Sheikh Jassim picture