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The powerful family of Qatar that has held a firm grip on power since the mid-‘90s is making headlines yet again following reports that they may be interested in buying the esteemed English Football Club, Manchester United.
The British Football Club, worth over $3 billion, is currently owned by the Glazer family. It is now believed that Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani, son of the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani is looking to bid to buy the club.
This is not the first association between Manchester United and Qatar, as the Qatar-based beIN Sports company acquired television broadcast rights of the Premier League in the United Kingdom from 2013 to the present. The Al Thani family’s bid to buy the football club is a reliable back-up for their sports business and Manchester United’s fan base.
The family was already linked to buying British Football Club, Liverpool, in 2019. Reports suggest the Al Thani family offered £3 billion (£2.3 billion) for Liverpool, but their bid was rejected.
The Al Thani’s have long been associated with football, having built Aspire Football Dreams. It is an academy that operates in six countries to help develop the talents of young football players. The project was completed in 2004 and is now also under the guidance of FIFA and AFC.
Despite the reported offer from the Al Thani family, the Glazers have not made any official comment about a potential sale. It remains to be seen what transpires between the two parties, but if the bid is accepted, the Qatar-based family will have acquired one of the world’s most decorated football clubs.
Whether the Al Thani family’s bid is accepted or not, it’s clear that their interest in acquiring Manchester United has the potential to signify a huge shift in the football world.
