Mothers know best, and sometimes perhaps even fathers do. The father of Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani certainly thinks so. Sheikh Jassim made headlines after his announcement to acquire 100 percent of the Manchester United Club from the Glazers for a whopping $6 billion. The head of the sports-loving family, and the former Qatar prime minister Sheikh Hamad, doesn’t share the same enthusiasm to acquire the legendary club. In an interview with The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations, published by Bloomberg, Sheikh Hamad expressed doubt over the takeover.
He said, “I am not a football fan. I don’t like this investment. Maybe it will work well. But you know, some of my sons like this, they always discuss it with me. They’re pushing hard. This isn’t my speciality” He added, “Let me put it like this: I am an investor. If it will one day be a good investment, I will think about it. I will not look at it as something you do just as an advertisement.”
The lack of enthusiasm has been manifested in a lackluster, interrupted takeover as none of the confirmed bids made by the Qatari royal and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe matched the $6 billion price tag attached to the club. The Glazers have allegedly delayed the sale and are pondering how to proceed. After two decades of ownership, the Glazer family is selling the iconic football club, with most family members wanting out.
