Finance expert Kieran Maguire finds Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent bid to acquire an initial 25 percent stake in Manchester United to be illogical.
Following Sheikh Jassim’s withdrawal from the Manchester United takeover process, as reported by BBC Sport, Ratcliffe has become the frontrunner to purchase the club. While Qatar had expressed interest in acquiring 100 percent of United’s shares, Ratcliffe’s latest offer is for an initial 25 percent stake. As revealed by Football Insider, Ratcliffe’s proposal would not grant him majority control at Old Trafford until 2026.
Maguire expressed his confusion about Ratcliffe’s latest offer, stating that it doesn’t seem logical for the 70-year-old to delay taking control. He also highlighted the differing views among the Glazer family members, suggesting that some are more hands-on while others are not as interested in football.
Maguire went on to question the rationale behind Ratcliffe’s decision to wait until 2026, especially considering his age.
“It will require a considerable amount of time for him to transform the club according to his vision, so it’s not logical.
There’s also a significant drawback in the sense that if he’s only planning to obtain a 25 percent stake and the Glazers are seeking an exit strategy in a few years, the one thing they won’t do is invest in Old Trafford.”