How much will it cost to buy Manchester United?

The Glazer family has controlled Manchester United since 2005, but last November they announced that they were open to exploring strategic alternatives for ownership of the club. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the UK’s richest personalities and owner of the petrochemical company INEOS, is very interested in buying the Premier League club. After weeks of rumours and after sounding out Chelsea last year, The Times reports exclusively that the tycoon’s spokesman has given the go-ahead to negotiate the purchase of the club: “We have formally entered the process”.

How much will Manchester United cost?

The Times does not talk about specific numbers, but the price involved in buying United could be in the region of €5.5 billion, a figure higher than the sale of Chelsea to Todd Boehly. The Glazer family’s relationship with the Red Devils has never been good, and from the outset, they have been unpopular among United fans. Their departure would appease a United fanbase that is very critical of the club’s owners.

Who is Jim Ratcliffe?

Jim Ratcliffe is a 70-year-old businessman from Oldham, England. He is the current chairman of Ineos, the third-largest chemicals company in the world, producing about 60 million tons of chemicals every year. Ratcliffe’s net worth is reported to be almost $30 billion. He moved to Monaco, France, in 2018, before buying Ligue 1 side OGC Nice in 2019.

Ratcliffe is also the owner of the Ineos cycling team and also invests in rugby, sailing and is one of the main sponsors of the Mercedes F-1 team. Lewis Hamilton could be one of the billionaire’s partners in the purchase of the Old Trafford club. The racing driver has always shown an interest in investing in football.