Sheikh Jassim’s father is “not a football fan” but he insists that his family’s interest in Man Utd is not an “advertisement” for Qatar.

The Red Devils have been up for sale since the end of November. The Glazer family said at the time that they would “evaluate all options” and a full sale was on the agenda.

Unsurprisingly, there has been a lot of interest in Man Utd in recent months. British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe quickly established himself as a frontrunner after he failed to buy Chelsea last year.

Qatar investors are also keen and both parties submitted bids to the Glazer family last month. The current owners are understood to be holding out for around £6bn.

It was initially hoped that a takeover would be completed during the first quarter of 2023. But it has since been revealed that the Glazer family are delaying this process until the summer. 

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani – the father of Man Utd bidder Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani – has spoken on the potential takeover.

According to The Athletic, the father’s words are ‘notable’ as he ‘is viewed as being the person wealthy enough to supply the funds’ even though his son is fronting up the bid.

Shaikh Hamad has admitted that he has some reservations about a potential takeover of Man Utd.

“I am not a football fan,” said Sheikh Hamad, speaking before Sheikh Jassim tabled his bid (via The Athletic).

“I don’t like this investment. Maybe it will work well. But you know, some of my sons like this, they always discuss it with me. They’re pushing hard. This isn’t my speciality.

“Let me put it like this: I am an investor. If it will one day be a good investment, I will think about it. I will not look at it as something you do just as an advertisement.”

Sheikh Hamad was also against the idea of Qatar hosting last year’s World Cup but he admits now that “a lot of positive outcomes” came from this tournament being held in the Middle East country.

“If it was my choice, I wouldn’t have done it at that time,” he added. “When I was prime minister and this idea came to his Highness, the Father Emir, and his crown prince at the time, Sheikh Tamim, they knew that I was against it. Because I thought that’s a lot of money and effort that will be spent. We could spend it on something else that’s good for the people and the country.

“But if you ask me now, I will tell you there was a lot of positive outcomes. And the positive outcome was not only putting Qatar on the map. Look at the people who visited. I knew many from the business community, from all over the world. They came, some of them for the first time. They brought their families.”

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The article Man Utd takeover: Sheikh Jassim’s father ‘not a football fan’, insists bid is not Qatar ‘advertisement’ appeared first on Football365.com.