Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been told that Manchester United is “not for sale” following yet more talk of a prospective buyout.
The 69-year-old from Failsworth is one of the richest men in the UK and his name has regularly been floated around as one of the names who could potentially buy the Premier League club and global sporting brand.
The CEO of INEOS – a multinational chemicals company which replaced Team Sky cycling when he bought the franchise – went on to say: “I met Joel and Avram, and they are the nicest people.”
“They are proper gentlemen, and they don’t want to sell United. It is owned by the six children of the father and they don’t want to sell.”
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Quotes like this will surely frustrate United fans who have not only long hoped for a sale to materialise but also consider the Glazers the root of their team’s failings over the past decade.
🚨🔰 Here we go True Reds, PROOF THAT SIR JIM RATCLIFFE WANTS TO PURCHASE @ManUtd! BUT he says the Glazers do not want to sell the club! That’s why we have to Defund the Glazers, Boycott all MUFC’s sponsors & Protest to get the #GlazersOut in order to get #SirJimRatcliffeln 1/2 pic.twitter.com/6HnlPRmBbw
Ratcliffe was recently pictured with members of The 1958 supporters’ group who still believe him to be the frontrunner in the race to save the club from the so-called ‘Glazernomics‘ that have seen them deeper into debt and further down the table.
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One of the most vilified footballing administrations anywhere in the world, the Glazer family have been in charge at Man United since 2005 and fans have been protesting their ownership ever since.
The ‘Glazers Out‘ protests hit a fever pitch over the past year or so, with massive demonstrations before several games and fans even breaking onto the pitch back in May 2021.
Ratcliffe stated his intentions rather clearly to the outlet: “If it had been for sale in the summer, yes we would probably have had a go following on from the Chelsea thing.”
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The businessman also made a late bid to buy the west London club before it was acquired by American Todd Boehly, whose designs on the league as a whole have led to much debate.
The likes of United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and more are now at least partially owned by American investors and many are speculating as to the wider impact growing US investment could lead to.
Despite being in the conversation for several years, 2022 has been the closest he has ever come to a real bid after he was linked with the consortium headed up by Michael Knighton, a former United director whose infamous £20 million bid to buy the club back in 1989 went up in flames due to financing.
Knighton, who began preparing an approach back in August, admitted that he needed the funding of parties like Ratcliffe to make a genuine proposal possible. Even with his backing, it looks as though the Glazers aren’t even close to entertaining a deal.
Ranked 27th on the Sunday Times Rich List, the entrepreneur is one of the few candidates with the kind of money capable of purchasing the mega club from its American owners, but it looks like Reds will have to keep waiting for a breakthrough.
Featured Image — Wikimedia Commons
Sport
Manchester United confirm Antony will return to training following assault allegations
Danny Jones
Manchester United winger Antony is heading back to training amid his multiple assault allegations.
Antony‘s case is still ongoing, with a total of three women coming out to accuse him of domestic abuse — chiefly, his ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin, who was first to raise concerns surrounding his alleged behaviour — but his cooperation through the investigation has led them to revise their position.
Issuing an update on Friday morning confirming that the forward with be brought back into the fold until the situation is resolved.
A club statement reads as follows: “Since allegations were first made in June, Antony has co-operated with police inquiries in both Brazil and the UK, and he continues to do so.
“As Antony’s employer, Manchester United has decided that he will resume training at Carrington, and be available for selection, while police inquiries proceed. This will be kept under review pending further developments in the case.
“As a club, we condemn acts of violence and abuse. We recognise the importance of safeguarding all those involved in this situation, and acknowledge the impact these allegations have on survivors of abuse.”
Erik ten Hag‘s side plays their second game against Crystal Palace in less than a week after beating them 3-0 in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and while it is not thought Antony will be brought straight back into the team, he will be available for selection moving forward.
United currently sit ninth in the Premier League with three wins and three losses to their name.
Man United to play Newcastle in Carabao Cup fourth round after Magpies knock out Man City
Danny Jones
Last season’s Carabao Cup winners, Man United, now know their opponents for the next round after Newcastle United beat Man City 1-0 on Wednesday night, meaning both 2022/23 finalists will once again be meeting each other.
Either way, Alexander Isak’s single goal in the game at St James’ Park was enough to see the Magpies make it past the treble-winners despite a dominant first-half display from the away side.
City had been on top throughout and had plenty chances of their own.
After receiving a yellow card during the game, the night ended with Guardiola fuming at referee Chris Kavanagh and exchanging more than a few words after the full-time whistle.
Clearing the moment up with reporters after the game, Pep said: “I don’t know how many fouls they did, how many fouls we had and the number of yellow cards, but it is what it is — sometimes the emotions are there. Respect for the referees and their job, a well-deserved yellow card.”
Nevertheless, the result has led to a repeat of last year’s culminating cup tie which, despite coming much earlier in the competition this time around, will see United facing off against a high-flying Newcastle team who just put eight goals past Sheffield United on this past Sunday.
The Magpies’ manager, Eddie Howe, has already said he and his side are aiming to “go one better” than they did last year and with the form they’re displaying at the moment — especially with United’s stuttering start — they stand a pretty good chance.
🗣 "We want to try and go one further if we can but there's a long way to go."
Elsewhere amongst the Premier League sides remaining in the competition, West Ham will host Arsenal, Bournemouth will play Liverpool at home and Sean Dyche’s Everton will play his old club Burnley.
Further down the footballing pyramid, Fulham visit Championship side Ipswich, Chelsea will host Blackburn and at least two other EFL sides will make it to the quarter-finals, with Mansfield at home to Port Vale and Exeter playing Middlesbrough.
All fourth-round ties are set to take place in the week commencing 30 October.
You can watch the highlights of Newcastle United vs Manchester City down below.
Danny Jones -
13th October 2022 
