Sheikh Jassim has hinted he will make big changes to Man Utd once the takeover is complete
Manchester United’s new owner has yet to be determined, but Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani could make his first trip off the pitch if his bid is successful.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani could delist Manchester United from the New York Stock Exchange if his bid for the club is accepted.
It has been claimed that the Qatari banker, one of two candidates to succeed the Glazer family, could follow the example of the Roma landlord Friedkin family. The Italian club was listed on the Borsa (his country’s stock exchange) for more than two decades before pulling out in 2022.
United went public in 2012, several years after being owned by the Glazer family. The club had been listed on the London Stock Exchange for several years prior. “I think Sheikh Jassim’s investment plan is very similar to that of the Friedkin Group in Roma, but on a bigger scale,” football financial analyst Viva Mukherjee told Football Insider. “The group bought an 86.6 per cent majority stake in AS Roma in 2020 for £510m, including £331m of debt from the previous owner.
“Similarly, Qatar’s offer includes the payment of £725million in gross debt to Old Trafford. The Friedkin Group needed 95% of the capital to write off the Italian club – a stake Jassim would hold at Old Trafford s managed to win the buyout.
“I think Jassim will do the same and want to take United off the list if he becomes the new owner. His offer for the club is around $6.3bn (£4.95bn) and the majority of that fee will be paid to the Glazers and club’s shareholders.
“It’s the opposite of [Sir Jim] Ratcliffe’s offer, where the club’s debt is likely to remain and the club can continue to trade on the stock exchange.”
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Man Utd was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012 (
United’s stock price soared to $23.80 in mid-June, a one-month high. It has since increased even more and stood at $25.12 at the time of writing.
Sheikh Jassim’s company appears to have received British approval, leading to further optimism about a Qatari takeover. Nine Two Holdings is incorporated in the UK and lists the banker as one of two directors. The Glazer family publicly announced plans in November 2022 to explore selling the club, among other possible strategic alternatives. After multiple rounds of bidding, the final decision is expected to see either Sheikh Jassim or INEOS head Sir Jim Ratcliffe named as the new owner, although reports during the trial also indicated that the current owners had continued to explore the prospect of remaining on board.