Sir Jim Ratcliffe stated that he would have tried and bought Manchester United if it had been available for sale in the summer.
After Ratcliffe’s August announcement, the British billionaire and chief executive officer of Ineos expressed interest in purchasing the club, he was initially hesitant.
When ChelseaThese were available for purchase earlier in the year. Ratcliffe was a late but ultimately unsuccessful candidatePlace a bid to purchase the west London club.
However, when speaking to The Financial Times, the 69-year-old appeared to suggest he would’ve tried to buy United in the summer, but the Glazer family don’t want to sell the club.
He said: “I’m a lifelong Manchester United fan. That match in 99 in Barcelona was the most memorable. It is a memory that I will always cherish.
“Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family. Joel and Avram have been my friends. They are gentlemen and the most kind people I know.
“They don’t want to sell it (the club). It’s owned by the six children of the father. We would have bought it if it was available for sale in the summer. But we can’t sit around hoping one day Manchester United will become available.
“So what will happen now? We own a sports franchise. We own a third of Mercedes’ Formula 1 team. Robbed last year. The one thing we don’t have… Football is the most popular sport in the world. We should have a leading club.
“Nice has got a very interesting history. We’ll have a look at what we might be able to do with Nice.”
United is owned by the Glazer family since 2005.
