Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamid of Qatar is passionate about the NFL and is working to spread its mania throughout the Middle East. According to rumors in UK media on Saturday, this billionaire made a new offer to purchase Manchester United from Malcolm Glazer who also happens to be the owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With a record 20 league titles and three Champions League victories, Manchester United is one of the wealthiest and most successful clubs in the history of soccer.
Malcolm Glazer acquired a majority ownership position in the team through the investment firm Red Football Ltd. in 2005. After his death controlling stake was divided equally among the six children of the Glazers – Avram, Joel, Kevin, Bryan, Darcie, and Edward Glazer.
Although the Red Devils are still among the most well-liked and commercially successful soccer teams in the world, fans were unhappy with Gazlers’ decision to take over the team because the family is to blame for the club’s mounting debt.
Do the dream of Qatari Sheikh Jassim taking over Manchester United going to become real?
Everyone’s attention is on Old Trafford for the second round of offers in the Manchester United takeover controversy after the bid to purchase the club began. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Thomas Zilliacus, the US hedge fund Elliott Management, and the Qatari Sheikh are currently vying to acquire MU, however, Jassim and Ratcliffe, the owner of chemicals juggernaut INEOS, continue to be the front-runners.
A second-round offer, worth around 5 billion pounds ($6.12 billion), was made on Saturday by the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank, who has made it abundantly obvious that he wants to acquire the team. The original deadline for second bids, set on Wednesday at 9 p.m., was extended indefinitely for the representatives of the Sheikhs on Tuesday.
With Manchester United under his control, the Qatati Sheikh will also look forward to bringing the NFL obsession to the Middles East with exhibition games being played “in the national stadium in Doha.”
This plan of Jassim also perfectly aligns with the NFL’s global conquest- the league wants the sport to be played in countries like England and Germany. Moreover, with the Sheikh’s plans implemented, it would be an added benefit for the league and its new policies.
Peter O’Reilly the NFL’s executive vice president in an interview famously said, “Growing the league and our sport internationally is a major strategic priority for the NFL, and we are excited to again be playing five games outside of the US in 2023.”
Jassim appears to be going out of his way to acquire the teams (Manchester United and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and spread the NFL obsession throughout the Middle East, even though many people believe MU will lose its winning tradition due to a rich owner who is unconcerned about both soccer and football.
Nonetheless, many intellectual people admire his takeover choice and commitment to extending the NFL passion.
What is your opinion on a middle east Sheikh’s takeover of the English giant?
