MANCHESTER, England: If British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is successful in his attempt to buy a minority stake in Manchester United, he could end up with a major say in the running of the underperforming club.
The owner of petrochemicals giant Ineos appears to be ready to invest in the storied English soccer club after rival Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar said over the weekend he was withdrawing from the bidding process.
Ratcliffe is trying to buy a 25 percent share of United and also wants to run soccer operations, a person with knowledge of the proposal told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
United’s American owners, the Glazer family, in November announced plans to seek outside investment that could have resulted in the sale of the 20-time English league champions.
Ratcliffe initially bid for the family’s controlling stake of about 69 percent, while Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim wanted 100 percent of the club.
With the process dragging on beyond an expected completion date of June, Ratcliffe has adjusted his offer and that could pave the way to him becoming a co-owner of the club he has supported since he was a child.
THE PROPOSAL
Ratcliffe’s bid would mean the Glazers, who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, remain in control of United. But if he is given responsibility of running the sporting side of the business, it would give him a real opportunity to improve the team’s performance on the field.
United has not won a league title since former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
United won the Champions League title in 2008, five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, five League Cups and the Europa League under the Glazers, but the vast majority of those trophies were won by Ferguson. United has won four trophies in 10 years since his retirement.
Ratcliffe reportedly still eventually wants to take complete control of the club over a staggered process, but that has not been confirmed.
Ratcliffe is one of Britain’s richest people and is said to be worth $15.1 billion. He previously tried to buy Chelsea and already owns French club Nice and cycling’s Team INEOS. He is one-third shareholder of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team and competes in the America’s Cup with sailing team INEOS Britannia.
THE RECRUITMENT
Despite spending about $2 billion on transfers in the past decade, United has been toppled as English soccer’s most dominant force. While rival Manchester City has been backed by the vast wealth of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, United has still been able to compete for the world’s leading players and has broken records to sign the likes of Paul Pogba and Harry Maguire.
But that hasn’t brought success, with many of United’s signings failing to live up to the expectations of leading the team back to the top.
There have been changes in recent years. Former executive vice chairman Ed Woodward has gone. The role of football director was introduced, with John Murtough appointed to that position, and Matt Hargreaves was recently hired to lead player negotiations.
The club believes its soccer operations department has been strengthened, pointing to the recent signings of Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund as evidence of an improving recruitment policy.
Hojlund is considered among the best emerging strikers in Europe and was signed from Atalanta for 64 million pounds ($82 million).
Critics, however, would point to Hojlund joining Atalanta just a year earlier for a reported 20 million euros ($21.2 million) and Onana moving from Ajax to Inter Milan on a free transfer in 2022. United paid 51 million euros ($57 million) for the goalkeeper this year.
THE MANAGER
United manager Erik ten Hag has been backed by Murtough and United since he was hired last year.
The Dutchman has been allowed to bring in expensive signings like Brazil internationals Antony and Casemiro, as well as Hojlund, as he tries to overhaul the squad.
He enjoyed an impressive first season when winning the club’s first trophy in six years — the League Cup — and leading United back to the Champions League.
Ten Hag has also been backed over his disciplining of star players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, while Maguire has been stripped of the captaincy and made a peripheral figure in the team after falling out of favor.
While fans have jeered as United has endured a difficult start to this season, losing six of its first 11 games, Ten Hag remains popular.
His record at Ajax when winning three league titles and two cups shows he can deliver success.
He is the club’s fifth permanent manager since Ferguson retired.
A policy of hiring and firing clearly hasn’t worked, but would Ratcliffe want to make his own appointment if in charge?
THE STADIUM
Old Trafford may be iconic, but it is in need of redevelopment. It remains the biggest club stadium in the country, but looks dated compared to Tottenham’s new ground, which regularly hosts NFL games.
Ratcliffe is reportedly offering about 1.3 billion pounds ($1.58 billion) for a minority stake, but it is not known how that money will be spent. Ratcliffe also reportedly wants to expand Old Trafford from 74,000 seats to 90,000.
It is not likely that stadium redevelopments would come under soccer operations, but it would be a meaningful change that would generate extra funds and also appeal to supporters.
Last year, United appointed stadium developers Populous to look at options for Old Trafford. While another possibility would be to rebuild the stadium, that would pose problems in terms of relocating the team during the building process and lost revenue as a result.
THE FANS
Manchester United’s supporters have long-campaigned to drive out the unpopular owners since the late Malcom Glazer bought the club for 790 million pounds (then about $1.4 billion) in 2005. Fans have been critical of the leveraged nature of the Glazers’ buyout that loaded debt onto the club, as well as a perceived lack of investment and the dividends taken out by the owners.
Many have called for the Glazers to be completely removed. The Manchester United Supporters Trust told the AP that propping the family up permanently would be a “nightmare scenario.”
Fans have continued to protest against the family and chants of “Glazers out” are regularly heard at games.
Ratcliffe, who was born in the Manchester area, has risked angering supporters by offering to buy a minority stake. But if he is successful in gaining control of soccer operations and oversees a period of success, he could help to placate them and ease tension around the club.
However, if United’s decline continues, he would be in danger of being a visible figure of blame.
Jim Ratcliffe could have a major say in Manchester United if he buys a minority stake in the club
https://arab.news/zhkrw
Jim Ratcliffe could have a major say in Manchester United if he buys a minority stake in the club
- The owner of petrochemicals giant Ineos appears to be ready to invest in the storied English soccer club
- Ratcliffe is trying to buy a 25 percent share of United and also wants to run soccer operations
Vinicius hits brace as Real Madrid come back to snatch draw at Bayern
- The draw puts Madrid in the driving seat ahead of next week’s return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. Bayern, who dominated large parts of the match, will still have hopes of making it to Wembley’s final in June
MUNICH, Germany: Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior scored a double, including an 83rd-minute equalising penalty, to snatch a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich in Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg.
Vinicius gave Real the lead after 24 minutes but Bayern scored twice in four second-half minutes to wrestle back control of the match, Leroy Sane with a stunning opener and Harry Kane converting a penalty.
Kim Min-jae judo tackled Rodrygo Goes in the box with eight minutes remaining and Vinicius stepped up, drowning out a chorous of boos and whistles to blast home.
“In this competition it’s important not to lose, and we’re here because we haven’t lost yet,” said Vinicius.
“I’m very happy that I was able score two goals, and now we need to have a magical night at home,” he added.
The draw puts Madrid in the driving seat ahead of next week’s return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. Bayern, who dominated large parts of the match, will still have hopes of making it to Wembley’s final in June.
“It’s a good result for the second leg,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “But nothing has been decided yet.
“Bayern have high quality. They have players like Musiala or Sane who can hurt us.”
“It feels a bit strange,” said Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel.
“But the situation is very clear. Win in Madrid, then off to Wembley. The winner takes it all.
“We will be ready and we accept the fight. We will go to Madrid with self-confidence. We have to be brave.”
Before the match, the Bayern fans unveiled a giant banner depicting Franz Beckenbauer which spanned all the way from the grass to the rafters. It was a fitting tribute on a night featuring the most-played fixture in European Cup history.
Famed for their composure on the biggest of stages in this competition, the 14-time winners struggled early, Bayern dominating possession and field position while spurred on by a ferocious home crowd.
Sane had a chance after just 40 seconds and another minutes later, while Kane chipped a shot from halfway just over the bar as the leggy visitors struggled to cope.
Madrid’s continued success in this competition, including in their quarter-final win over Manchester City, has been built on absorbing pressure before striking.
The visitors repeated the trick for the opener, breaking Bayern’s dominance in ruthlessly simple fashion while showing the hosts how easy scoring goals can be.
Toni Kroos collected the ball from a corner and drilled a defense-splitting pass along the ground which found Vinicius galloping in acres of space on the edge of the area.
Without a Bayern player in range, Vinicius calmly slotted the opener past a helpless Manuel Neuer, changing the complexion of the match completely.
Bayern, who have six European Cups of their own, were not awed and continued to push but could not break through; their best chance of the remainder of the half came through a free kick, with Kane finding a huge gap in the wall but blasting wide.
With Real seemingly in cruise control, Bayern grabbed hold of the match early in the second-half, scoring twice in four minutes.
Eric Dier found Sane down the right flank. The Germany winger, who had missed several chances in the first half, dribbled into the box before unleashing an unstoppable rocket at the near post, his first goal for Bayern in any competition since October.
The hosts’ next attack came down the left, with the ever-dangerous Jamal Musiala felled by Lucas Vazquez in the box. Referee Clement Turpin pointed straight to the spot and Kane duly sent Andriy Lunin the wrong way to take the lead.
With Bayern in control, Real went on the counter and it was Kim’s turn to give away a clumsy penalty, with Vinicius confidently slotting in the equalizer.
“We have to continue with cool heads, rest until next week, and we will give everything to leave the Bernabeu qualified for London,” said Madrid’s goal hero on the night.
Uzbekistan and Japan to contest 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup final
- Semifinal wins mean both nations progress to the Olympic Games in Paris this summer
- Winner of third place playoff between Iraq and Indonesia will also qualify for Paris 2024
DOHA: Uzbekistan and Japan will face each other in the final of the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup after beating Indonesia and Iraq in their respective semifinals in Qatar on Monday.
The results mean both countries also qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. Indonesia and Iraq will contest third place, with the winner also booking their spot at the Games. The loser will have a final chance to qualify in a game against an African federation team.
In the first semifinal at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Uzbekistan took the lead after 68 minutes, thanks to Khusayin Norchaev. Their victory was sealed by an own goal by Pratama Arhan in the 86th minute.
Later in the evening at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Al-Rayyan, Japan beat Iraq — the last Arabian team standing — 2-0 with goals from Mao Hosoya (28 minutes) and Ryataro Araki (42).
The current holders of the trophy, Saudi Arabia, exited the competition at the quarterfinal stage following a 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan.
The final between Uzbekistan and Japan is set to take place on Friday at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
China to host 2025 Saudi Super Cup, attracting global football stars
- Despite strong bids from Doha and Abu Dhabi, the Chinese proposal emerged as the frontrunner
- Qualification for the upcoming Super Cup has been secured by Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr
Riyadh: In a significant move for Saudi football, China is set to host the Saudi Super Cup 2025 tournament from Aug. 14 -17, according to the sports daily Arriyadiyah, a sister publication of Arab News.
Reports suggest that the decision to award China the hosting rights came after intense competition, particularly from Emirati and Qatari contenders. Despite strong bids from Doha and Abu Dhabi, the Chinese proposal emerged as the frontrunner. Additionally, Saudi officials are keen to relocate the tournament away from the Gulf region, aiming to engage a broader global audience and promote Saudi football.
One of the driving factors behind China’s successful bid is the presence of renowned international football stars in Saudi teams, contributing to their widespread popularity. Leading figures like Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr, Neymar Jr. representing Al-Hilal, Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad, and Firmino, captain of Al-Ahli, add considerable allure to the competition.
The previous edition, held in Abu Dhabi, saw Al-Hilal clinch victory over their rivals Al-Nassr with a 2-1 scoreline.
Qualification for the upcoming Super Cup has been secured by Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, based on their performance in the Saudi Pro League, known as the Roshn Saudi League. However, the participants from the King’s Cup, as well as its runner-up, are yet to be determined.
In recent Roshn League action, the Yellow Team, Al-Nassr, secured their place in the Super Cup by defeating hosts Al-Khaleej with a solitary goal. This victory propelled them to 71 points, firmly securing their second-place standing, a position out of reach for Al-Ahli, currently in third with 52 points and six matches remaining. Even with a perfect score, Al-Ahli would fall short of overtaking Al-Nassr, who, despite potential losses in their remaining fixtures, maintain a comfortable lead.
The Blue Team, Al-Hilal, who still need seven points to conclude their league campaign, have also booked their spot in the Super Cup. The tournament’s semifinals will feature clashes between Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, as well as Al-Nassr against Al-Khaleej.
Both Al-Khaleej and Al-Ittihad will vie for a spot in the final, eyeing the opportunity to secure one of the two coveted slots in the Super Cup.
In the event that both teams fail to progress and the finalists emerge from the capital’s rivalry — Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr — Super Cup regulations dictate that the available slots will be awarded to the third and fourth-placed teams in the Roshn League standings.
Should only one of the capital’s teams advance to the cup final, they will automatically claim their Super Cup berth, either as champions or runners-up, with the remaining slot going to the third-placed team in the league.
Moroccan World Cup star Amallah enjoying La Liga life with Valencia
- Before his club’s trip to Barcelona, the midfielder spoke to Arab News about playing in Spain, his country’s World Cup heroics and Arab players in Europe
VALENCIA: At international and club level, the past few years have been pretty memorable for Valencia and Morocco star Selim Amallah.
The 27-year-old joined the La Liga team on loan from Segunda Division club Real Valladolid in the summer of 2023, having been part of the Moroccan squad that reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
On Monday night the Belgian-born midfielder will be part of the Valencia team, currently eighth in La Liga and led by club legend Ruben Baraja, that will take on Barcelona at Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys.
Amallah is delighted with the way things have worked out for him.
“I’m thrilled to be playing in Spain because it’s one of the best leagues globally,” Amallah, fresh from a practice session at Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna, Valencia’s state-of-the-art training complex, told Arab News.
“It’s a league I wanted to play in and I've succeeded,” he said. “I anticipated more playing time initially,” he added. “I recognize the invaluable learning experience this season has offered. Frankly, I’m very happy to be here.”
While historically many players from North Africa have thrived in La Liga and other European leagues, very few from the Middle East or Gulf states have even attempted to make that leap.
Amallah feels more Arab players should make that move, not just to experience new sporting challenges and cultures, but primarily to succeed as professionals on the pitch.
“Yes, of course, I believe making history in a championship or for your country is something you aspire to achieve, and it’s one of my goals,” he said.
Without question the highlight of Ramallah’s career to date was Morocco’s incredible march to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Along the way, the Atlas Lions defeated Spain and Portugal, before losing out to France, who were defending world champions.
“It was truly incredible,” said Amallah. “These are memories that I believe will last forever. None of us expected to reach such a remarkable level. We also demonstrated that Moroccan players and our clubs can compete at the highest levels of football. We take immense pride in representing our country.”
Part of the experience in Qatar was the overwhelming support that teams from Arab countries received, with members of various communities uniting to support the regional teams.
“It was an immense source of pride, as our support extended beyond just the Moroccan people to encompass all Muslim communities,” said Amallah. “We took great pride in demonstrating the significant presence of Muslims in football, proving our ability to not only inspire pride among Moroccans but also among the entire Arab and African world through our dedication on the field.”
After the euphoria of Qatar 2022, there was more good news for Morocco when the country was named co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
But before the football world showpiece, Amallah said that he and his colleagues will be eyeing more success on the pitch.
“I believe there’s still more for us to prove and demonstrate that Morocco remains a force to be reckoned with,” he said. “We have an exceptional team with talented players, and while the expectations may have risen, we’re determined to rise to the occasion and give our all to represent our country.”
Champions Al-Nassr end women’s Premeir League season on a high
- Celebrations included firwroks display after 1-0 win over Al-Ittihad in Riyadh
RIYADH: Al-Nassr women’s football club, winners of the 2023-2024 Premier League, ended their season on a high with a 1-0 victory over Al-Ittihad on Sunday night.
Al-Awwal Park Stadium was lit up with fireworks as Al-Nassr were crowned champions for a second year in a row, having already won the title last month against Al-Hilal.
Al-Nassr midfielder Lina Boussaha scored the winning goal in the second minute.
Members of Al-Nassr men's team Otavio and Alex Telles were spotted cheering from the sidelines as the team secured the league win.
Fans enjoyed a half-time show with prizes including signed Al-Nassr football shirts.
