Two old acquaintances in the “Theatre of Dreams”: The ex-Bundesliga professionals Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst are now in the service of Manchester United
Image: AP
Two very different billionaires want to buy Manchester United. Sheik Jassim from Qatar probably has more money, Jim Ratcliffe more sympathy among the fans.
Dhe takeover battle for Manchester United is heating up and the rumor mill is churning. The second round of bidding ended last week. Allegedly, the Glazers, the owner family from America, expect at least 5 billion or even 6 billion pounds (5.7 to 6.8 billion euros) as a valuation for the football club. This would make Manchester United by far the most expensive sports club in the world.
The two men who are considered favorites for the purchase could hardly be more different. Both are multi-billionaires, but their life stories are radically different. Jim Ratcliffe, the wiry 70-year-old self-made man, often tells of his childhood in council housing in Greater Manchester, where his father worked as a simple carpenter. As the founder of the chemical empire Ineos, Ratcliffe has risen to become one of the best-known entrepreneurs in the kingdom with tens of thousands of employees around the world. The Queen has ennobled the at times richest man in the country “Sir”. He presents his bid for Manchester United as a patriotic act to keep the club safe for the fans.