Rags takeover!!!

[jono1978]

Mirror reports that the Qatari royal family want to buy them for 1.5bn could someone plz post the link thanks.

[Esky]

Arab state to add Reds to UK portfolio including Harrods and Hyde Park site
By Bill Mann
LAST UPDATED 8:05 AM, DECEMBER 19, 2010 Share
Manchester United could join rivals Manchester City in selling out to Arab investors. According to an exclusive report in the Sunday Mirror, Qatar Holdings, what the paper describes as "an investment vehicle for the Qatari royal family" are hopeful of a £1.5bn takeover of Manchester United.

With City having been bought by billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008 for a reported £200m, the capture of the Red Devils would further strengthen the grip of Middle Eastern money on the English Premier League. It would also send out a powerful statement of Qatar’s intent as they prepare to host the 2022 World Cup.

Earlier in the month the Qatar Foundation, also owned by the Qatar royal family, bought the sponsorship rights to the Barcelona shirt for five years in a £140m deal, while the Arab state is rapidly buying up London, with Harrods, One Hyde Park and the 13-acre site of the Chelsea Barracks part of its portfolio of investments said to be worth over £3bn. Qatar’s huge wealth is based on the swift growth of its gas industry during the past decade.

The Sunday Mirror says that the chairman of Qatar Holdings, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, also Qatar’s prime minister, is confident a deal can be reached with the Glazers, the controversial American family who bought Manchester United in 2005 for £790m.

United fans have been campaigning for two years against the Glazers, adopting a yellow and green scarf as a symbol of discontent at the way they have, in their view, mismanaged the club. With United posting annual losses of £83m in October, the prospect of
replacing the Glazers with Qatar Holdings would be an attractive one for fans from a purely financial viewpoint.

The Mirror says that Qatar Holdings have earmarked £2.5bn for their takeover of Manchester United, £1.5bn to go to the Glazers (representing a tidy profit for the Americans) and the rest to be used by Sir Alex Ferguson in the transfer market. The proposed deal would also ensure Wayne Rooney remains at Old Trafford. Rumours have been rife in Manchester that United intend to sell the England striker in the near future – despite his having signed a new contract in October - to ease their debts but if Qatar come on board that won’t be the case.

However, if Qatar Holdings do acquire United perhaps they might want to have a word with Rooney about his choice of music. "Before the last few games I’ve been listening to Susan Boyle," admitted Rooney at the weekend. "I think it just relaxes me. Her new album is really good and it calms me down."

Rooney, who has managed just two goals for United this season, also revealed he’s as addicted to reality television as the rest of the country: "I love X Factor and I watch it every year," he said. "I liked Rebecca this time and thought she probably should have won it – but Matt was good as well.

[jono1978]

cheers mate.

[ashton287]

Worst possible thing that could ever happen EVER. I will assume/hope its bollocks.

It's like fifa hava said to qatar, we will give you the world cup and you bail out our 2 favourite clubs.

[Ted Hughes]

I said when the Glazers mysteriously paid off a portion of the debt, that it seemed like the possible 1st steps of a takeover, so it wouldn't surprise me. However, the fact that it's in the press now, doesn't seem to be in keeping with the way these things are usually done when serious people are involved.

It's looking unlikely that the Glazers will remain at OT forever though, unfortunately. Heroes.

[everyonehatesus]

Its all bollocks, this was going around a small time ago. Over on ragcafe its been rubbished, just more lazzy fuckers at the Mirror. Even if it had any truth I would worry as they dont come close to us, they dont even have the same level of cash as Chelski.

[Beefymcfc]

Its all bollocks.

Nuff said.

[Dubaimancityfan]

Doesn't sound far fetched. The Qataris are very ambitious and they want to keep up with the Jonses (Abu Dhabi).

However the figure mentioned does no make sense. Are the Rags really worth 1.5 billion pounds. Sounds crazy to me, although these people will not expect (nor do they need it) a quick return on investment.

As Ashton said, its the worst thing that can happen, if true.

[everyonehatesus]

They dont need them to raise their profile as they now have the world cup for that.

[Crossie]

It's bollocks, there is no way they would buy Scum while John O'Shea plays there.

(BANG post of the year right there)

[Beefymcfc]

They dont need them to raise their profile as they now have the world cup for that.

On the other hand, maybe they want to be seen in football circles in the lead-up to it, and to further their own country similar to our owners.

There are 2 trains of thought here, one being that the Glazer's want to sell and Qatar need to up their profile. When you look back, the Glazer's have just paid off their £220 mil PiK note and nobody really knows where it came from. Then you factor in that United went on a tour of Qatar, Alex Ferguson supporting the Qatar bid and Wayne Rooney completing a massive turn-around, then it's easy to see why people believe this to be true.

The other is that the Glazer's are actually managing the debt correctly and that the Green and Gold brigade are just a bunch of knee-jerker's who haven't got a clue what is going on at their club. As mentioned, the PiK note was paid off with nobody knowing where the money came from, but we do know that after their figure's were realeased, they had around £150 mil stashed away in the bank. We also know that as part of the bond scheme the Glazer's added a clause stating that they could withdraw £70 mil to pay down part of the debt. Coincidental?

Now, the question's I'd ask myself are:

1. Would the Glazer's want to sell their cash-cow, and if so, how much for?

2. Would the Qataris want to go toe-to-toe with their bigger and wealthier brother?

Well, the answer to question 1 as got to be yes, but only for the right price, and that's where the paper's pull the 1.5 billion from - who wouldn't accept twice the clubs worth? So by exaggerating the figure, and knowing the Glazer's love for money, the story almost seems feasible. But at the same time, they take a hell of a lot of money out of the club at the moment and can take even more now that the PiK is paid off. Plus, they'd still own the club and sell it off at market worth, coupled with the money they've taken out over the course of the ownership, would most probably far exceed the amount quoted. And this is not taking the stature issue into account.

The 2nd question is the biggest stumbling block for me. If they did buy United, they would be putting themselves in a positon that could possibly bring ill-feelings between the 2 family's, possibly belittling the Big Brother in the eye's of the world. This is something that doesn't happen with these culture's. In many of the Arab nation's, there is quite a stringent hierarchical structure, whether that be in family terms or national terms, and everyone knows their place in the overall structure. So, if Qatar decided to buy a direct competitor, in the same City, who has been far more successful, then that would suggest that Qatar see themselves as far bigger players, and therefore of greater stature. Is this truly the case?

There are obviously other factor's to be taken into consideration, but these are the main one's for me. There is also talk of the Qatar/Newcastle link which could be a more realistic situation as Newcastle are a club with massive potenial, just as ours was when the Sheikh came looking. Now, would this be far better option for them or is there, as I personally think, no option of a takeover for any club on the card's - afterall, they've got enough exposure at the moment to last a lifetime, or two?

[CITYSTEVEDON]

now IF this happens,and they throw money for transfers, will they be allowed in champs league as they will be against ptwatty and his vision

[Beefymcfc]

now IF this happens,and they throw money for transfers, will they be allowed in champs league as they will be against ptwatty and his vision

Hasn't Rooney's pay-rise put paid to that?

[Cityfan]

It would be a bit strange to give an important rival a major boost by sponsoring their shirt just before taking over a club. Other than that it does not seem completely implausible given they want to raise their profile in football.

[Beefymcfc]

It would be a bit strange to give an important rival a major boost by sponsoring their shirt just before taking over a club. Other than that it does not seem completely implausible given they want to raise their profile in football.

And that's a major point mate, do you give £150 mil to a team if you know they will soon be your rival?

[ashton287]

What if qatar offered to put money into FIFA's favourites as part of their WC [strike]bribe[/strike] bid.

Would explain the barca money as people cant just buy barca can they or is it real who cant be bought.

Sounds tin hat conspiracy theoried but i wouldnt put anything past the corrupt twats so there it is.

[Beefymcfc]

What if qatar offered to put money into FIFA's favourites as part of their WC [strike]bribe[/strike] bid.

Would explain the barca money as people cant just buy barca can they or is it real who cant be bought.

Sounds tin hat conspiracy theoried but i wouldnt put anything past the corrupt twats so there it is.

How's the kid's Ashton?

[Bluez]

Truly lazy reporting. If they were bought out they could spend more on transfers as they wouldn't be paying all those interest payments, but 1.5 bil? That would be hard to get past the fair play rules, no matter how good their lawyers are.

[Beefymcfc]

Truly lazy reporting. If they were bought out they could spend more on transfers as they wouldn't be paying all those interest payments, but 1.5 bil? That would be hard to get past the fair play rules, no matter how good their lawyers are.

Not forgetting the 1 bil for players!

[Blue in the face]

If its bollocks its bollocks.

But Eventually the Glazers will find an Arab to sell to.