According to The Times, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has officially revealed that he has entered the race to buy Manchester United.
The tycoon has been linked with the Red Devils for the previous 18 months, but he hasn’t made a serious bid to buy the club.
The 70-year-old previously stated that he was not interested in purchasing United because the Glazers were not exploring a sale back in October 2022.
His position has since shifted as a result of the Glazers’ public admission in November that they are ready to sell the club. According to a representative for Sir Jim, the tycoon has placed himself in the process of signing the club.
Ratcliffe, a lifelong supporter of United, is now prepared to launch a serious takeover offer after failing to acquire Chelsea.
The Raine group had already chosen their preferred buyer when his company, INEOS, made a £4.25 billion offer to buy the Blues. However, the Raine group immediately rejected the offer.
Must Read: Erik ten Hag warns the Glazers against burning money for unwanted players
The winning bidder in the competition was a group headed by Todd Boehly. Sir Jim has since entered the fight for United and has been upfront about his intentions.
It is very possible that the CEO of INEOS will submit a bid with a group of investors, although it is uncertain if they would offer the Glazers the highest price.
The Red Devils’ bidding process is also under the direction of the Raine Group. There is no deadline, but the club might fetch £6–7 billion before the end of March.
