A spokesman for Ineos, the owner of British energy group, said that British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is “definitely a potential buyer” for Manchester United if the English club goes up for sale.
Ineos thus responds to the information that the current owners of United, the North American Glazer family, are considering selling a minority stake in the capital of the club that is last in the Premier League after two rounds.
A spokesman for Ineos told the newspaper times That Ratcliffe, who is considered the richest man in the UK, is willing to buy a minority stake “if possible” in order to prepare “in the long term” for the total takeover of the English club.
The Glazers took control of the club in 2005 but have since been repeatedly criticized, with fans accusing them of taking advantage of the club rather than investing money in players or fixing Old Trafford.
Glazer supported the failed attempt to create a closed European Super League.
United have not won the Premier League title since 2013 and have not lifted a major title since 2017.
Ratcliffe, an outspoken Manchester United fan, was unable to buy Chelsea in May, as the venture led by American businessman Todd Boehle defeated him.
Ineos already owns two European clubs, French Ligue 1 Nice and Swiss Lausanne, as well as a cycling team that includes Colombian Egan Bernal and Ecuadorean Richard Carapaz, who is also a sponsor of the Mercedes Formula 1 team.
