Manchester United takeover news: Deadline nears amid reports of Qatari bid

It was another game that felt like Marcus Rashford’s season, even his world, but there’s an alternate timeline where he was on the other side.

Way back in the 2018/19 season, Barcelona made serious offers for the Manchester United striker. Eric Abidal was eyeing Rashford and thought they could get him.

However, the player himself wasn’t so determined and ultimately just wanted to stay at United. Numbers within Barcelona would later speak of Rashford “bottling it up”, which is quite ironic considering how that season’s Champions League season ended at Anfield.

You think a little differently now after this Europa League game at the Camp Nou. Almost everyone was excited. Rashford was all they could talk about. It was one of those nights where the Catalan and Spanish media are simply stunned by a ‘star’, someone they must have.

Barcelona, ​​the team that once wowed the footballing world with their beautiful style on the field and social commitment to being “more than a club”, are in danger of tarnishing their reputation with a scandal of their own.

Although the club denies any wrongdoing, a Spanish prosecutor is investigating Barcelona’s multi-year payments to a company owned by the vice-president of Spain’s refereeing committee.

Spanish football has faltered since radio station SER Catalunya reported earlier this week that Barcelona paid 1.4 million euros ($1.5 million) in 2016-18 to a company owned by former referee José María Enríquez Negreira, who was part of the Referee Committee of the Spanish Football Federation from 1994-2018. Barcelona say the money was for technical reports on referees and youth players. Those payments, which have yet to be linked to illegal or inappropriate activities by the club, came to light as part of a tax investigation into the company.

Around the turn of the year, the Raine Group, which is overseeing the sale of Manchester United, approached investors from the state of Qatar if they were interested in buying the club. Sources with knowledge of the discussions say the reaction was initially lukewarm, partly because they thought it was a “fishing expedition” and there were doubts about how much the Glazer family owners really wanted to sell. It’s one of the questions clouding over this week and could yet ensure that Friday isn’t as crucial in the history of England’s biggest club as it is building.

It’s at least bigger than Thursday’s game against Barcelona, ​​which says something about why the situation is the way it is. As historic as this game at the Camp Nou is, it’s also a Europa League draw that used to be a Champions League draw, which has helped the Glazers wonder if now is the time to close sell.

There are few things in this whole process that can be said with certainty right now. As first reported by The Independent Back in August, the Glazers are interested in a sale but want £5bn for the club.

The report described the investors as “a group of private, wealthy individuals” from Qatar, which was hosting the 2022 World Cup.

United declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Manchester United’s LGBTQ+ support group, the Rainbow Devils, have expressed “deep concerns” about some of the parties reportedly interested in buying the club.

Reports suggest an offer from a fund linked to Qatar – where same-sex relationships are criminalized – could be imminent, while there are also rumors of Saudi interest in the club.

Friday night marks the so-called “soft deadline” for bidders looking to buy United to register their interest and provide proof of funding to Handelsbank Raine.

Hours before that deadline, the Rainbow Devils decided to comment.

There is a possibility that the Glazer family will not relinquish full control of Manchester United and will instead sell most of their shares to remain as minority shareholders within the new regime.

The Athletic conducted a poll of Manchester United fans and asked if they agreed with the result. 98% of voters wanted the Glazers to sell the club outright.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, born in Oldham and the only bidder to make his interest public, is a fan favorite with around 66% of United supporters backing his bid.

According to some sources sympathetic to the discussions about the sale of Manchester United. Today’s deadline could be disappointing due to suspicions about the Glazers’ intentions.

There are several people who know Joel and Avram Glazer who doubt their desire for a full takeover of the club, while the other four Glazer siblings, Bryan, Kevin, Ed and Darcie, are said to want out of Man Utd entirely.

With the Glazers in charge, there’s nothing stopping them from extending the deadline if the offers don’t meet their expectations.

Raine Group, which is overseeing the sale, had targeted a price of £6bn-7bn ($7.2bn-$8.4bn) and the industry remains skeptical that that fee will be reached. A lower price tag of around £5bn has also been rumored, which seems a more realistic prospect if the Glazers are willing to accept it.

Should today’s proposals appeal to the family, bidders will be given full access to Manchester United’s accounts to allow proper due diligence to be carried out.

There is no time limit for this step, although some feel that everything should be completed before the football season is over.

A well-made finish against Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the near post was the striker’s second goal of the season so far, equaling his personal best in a single season.

Ten Hag is enjoying Rashford’s recent goal-scoring move but has urged the player not to become complacent and to maintain his “focus” to ensure it continues.

‘Marcus Rashford continued his stellar form as he scored in the second half against Barcelona for a 1-1 equalizer last night at the Camp Nou.

Both sides scored again but United conceded the late equalizer and Rashford told BT Sport: “It felt like defeat.

“We did well to get back into the game, staying calm and composed.

“We tried to create chances when we could and we scored two quick goals then we felt we were in control of the result but they are a top side and managed to equalize .”

Marcus Rashford, 25, was furious after failing to win a penalty after being felled by Jules Kounde on the edge of the box. It was a decision manager Erik ten Hag was booked for when he protested the lack of VAR intervention.

“I haven’t watched it but I don’t understand why the linesman or the umpire thinks I’m going down there?” Rashford said after the game.

“I touched him past him, my foot is in front of the ball and he hits my leg. It’s a clear contact and it was 100 percent a foul. Hopefully the second leg will be another good game and we can go one step further.”