Man Utd fans mourn ‘one of our darkest days’ as Glazers snub £5bn Qatari takeover to give Sir Jim Ratcliffe 25 per cent

MANCHESTER UNITED fans were in a sombre mood this morning after learning the Glazers had snubbed a £5billion takeover offer from Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim.

Last night it was revealed the Glazers would be sticking around at Old Trafford after REJECTING Sheikh Jassim’s latest takeover offer in favour of selling a minority stake to Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

AFPMan Utd fans were devastated the Glazers were sticking around[/caption]

The takeover offer from Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim was withdrawn yesterday

PASir Jim Ratcliffe is set to take a 25 per cent stake in the club[/caption]

Sheikh Jassim is believed to have made a new sixth offer worth more than £6bn, featuring cash to redevelop the facilities including an Old Trafford rebuild and to clear the existing debt against the club.

However, with the Glazers turning down this offer, the Qatari bid was withdrawn after accusing the family of demanding an “outlandish” price to sell.

Instead, the Glazers have given the green light for INEOS director Ratcliffe to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club.

United bosses are set to sign off on Ratcliffe’s investment at a board meeting later this week.

Red Devils fans have been desperate for the club’s hated Glazer family owners to depart, and had hoped to see the back of them after they announced they were open to a sale last November.

Upon hearing the news, one fan wrote: “We are genuinely finished.”

A second said: “The Beginning of the end.”

A third commented: “RIP Manchester United.”

ReutersUnited fans were desperate for the Glazers to leave the club[/caption]

GettyThe owners have been unpopular since arriving in 2005[/caption]

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

Another fan said: “Officially finished with club football for good.”

Ratcliffe’s investment is reported to be the first step towards a gradual takeover which will see the Glazers eventually depart.

And some fans chose to have optimism this would be the case, with one fan saying: “The only way I can properly stomach this is if there is a proper road map to a full takeover. The Glazers have to go.”

A second remarked: “Fairs to Ratcliffe. I just hope he can do the full takeover within the next two years.”

Sheikh Jassim had been the front-runner for much of 2023.

He continued to be interested even though frustrations grew over the conduct of the Glazers and their bankers, the US-based Raine Group.

The Qatari has only ever wanted to buy the club outright from the Glazers, who have been in charge of United since the siblings’ late father Malcolm took it over in a £790m deal in 2005.

GettyProtests against the Glazer owners have been frequent[/caption]

Ratcliffe’s offer is said to be with a view to a gradual full takeoverGetty – Contributor

MAN UTD NEWS LIVE: Stay up to date with all of the latest transfer and takeover news from Old Trafford