The bid was turned down by the Americans, who are holding out for closer to £1.8bn
But the Al Thanis are on the verge of raising the stakes, partly motivated by rivalry with the Abu Dhabi royal family, whose wealth has transformed United’s arch-rivals Manchester City into title contenders.
Going head to head on the pitch would give the Al Thanis the opportunity to get one over on their Gulf neighbours, with the Manchester football scene offering a high-profile battleground.
Qatar is also keen to portray itself as a football-loving nation, after critics said it did not deserve to win the right to host the 2022 World Cup, because of its lack of football history.
United strenuously deny that they have received any bid from Qatar Holdings, a division of the Qatar Investment Authority, which identifies ways to make a return on the country’s oil billions.
But the source indicated the offer could be made privately, or through a separate vehicle owned by the Al Thanis.
The revived takeover talk comes with the club preparing to unveil their financial results
for the three months to the end of 2010 on Friday.
The financial presentation is expected to include a written statement by the Glazers of
their commitment to continued ownership of United.
While Qatar’s preference is a lone bid, it is also considering a Plan B that would see it go into partnership with the Red Knights, a group of wealthy United fans who put a £1bn bid for the club on ice last year.
The collective of City financiers and wealthy fans have made clear their determination to wrest control of the club from the Glazers, but do not have the funds to match the
Americans’ price tag.
A partnership would combine the billions of oil-rich Qatar with the groundswell of popular backing that the Red Knights could attract from fans.
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1 comment:
Glory2 man Utd.....
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