Club Sale | It’s done!

[LawCharltonBest]

Not sure how good this news is. Leaving aside the issues on morality, with Qatar owning PSG I don’t want this lame balancing act between the two clubs and issues with conflict of interest as well.

I've read a couple of usually reliable journalists say that the Qataris are beginning the process to sell PSG and are fed up with the French government etc. We'll see.

I imagine that, although it'll technically be a different group, if the Qataris get United or Liverpool then they'll stop pumping money into PSG and start leaning their attention to their new English team.

 

[HarryP]

He broke the story we were up for sale didn't he?

No, the Athletic did and Utd put a statement on their website shortly after to confirm the story.

 

[crossy1686]

It depends. PSG were one of the first to be bought, so they thought they need to flex their muscle.

If you look at the way recently they have moved, tried for a more organic way of growth.

The major difference is, you are not going from £10m player to £100m all of a sudden, United are still competing with them in terms of players.

We will probably be very similar to how we are currently run with more efficiency, better facilities.

I can see the Qatar group investing heavily in the community around Old Trafford and Manchester.

That’s the ideal situation. When you look at Newcastle you can see them doing this over there and they were obviously told they’d gave massive charges if they tried to copy the way city have done things.

 

[Bestietom]

Loadsamoney Qatari's wanting Manchester United.

 

[jeff_goldblum]

Think the club becoming a sportswashing outfit would be a step too far for me.

 

[sglowrider]

People talk a lot about morality and then pick and choose which causes to support even indirectly. How many on here who are complaining against a Qatari private ownership, will do the thing they can do - boycott products by these behemoths like Apple etc to actually show they just don't talk the talk.

It's convenient to ignore them and then state since human rights abuses (which also happens in these sweatshops and factories) is worse, so they will only raise their voices only during that time as they don't have to forego anything to support that stance, other than just post on a forum.

We live in a world where everything is seen in the eyes of absolutists or binary choices -- when its really its majority grey. I suspect as they mature and see the world for what it is, complicated, then they will see what we are saying today... but 10 years later.

 

[GreenFieldsGoldenBarley]

a thousand years ago, it wouldn't have been frowned upon as much as today. Even 20 years ago behaviour or comments during a date would be unacceptable nowadays.
As long as the Qataris don't cheat like the City owners then I am ok. We all have skeletons in our closets... glass houses & all.

Yeah, 2000 years ago men and women were fed to lions for being Christian. That's frowned upon now, but it wasn't frowned upon then.

Support the Qatari royal family if you like, but don't try to justify it with this kind of shitty moral relativism that says we can't criticise something if it happened some other time or place in the universe.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I've read a couple of usually reliable journalists say that the Qataris are beginning the process to sell PSG and are fed up with the French government etc. We'll see.

I imagine that, although it'll technically be a different group, if the Qataris get United or Liverpool then they'll stop pumping money into PSG and start leaning their attention to their new English team.

Thing is, it becomes a balancing act. They may just go the other way depending who is closer to their goals and prioritise PSG instead. Then of course there are the human rights issues we’d have to live with. Just seems to be a can of worms.

 

[BD]

I'd rather stick with the Glazers than this.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Very weird brain you have.

so you think one person wants United at 5bn after more than a dozen wanted Chelsea for a few bill? That seems… unlikely

This is one of the silliest posts I’ve read today.

Sorry guys, i'd had a drink

I still think Ineos will get it in the end though. And I don't think United need a state owner to compete, just an owner who'll let the club spend their own money without servicing debts (especially if city and Newcastle are going to be under the microscope more now) Anyway, let's see.

 

[sglowrider]

Think the club becoming a sportswashing outfit would be a step too far for me.

We were ripped/financially raped off for nearly decades now. So sportwashing seems a little tame or even pleasant a 'sentence'.
Benevolent owners just don't exist -- even Abromovich who was well-liked by Chelsea fans/supporters. But generally disliked by the footballing world. You just can't please everyone.

To me it is not about winning silverware. Its about financial sustainability -- we are skint. Beggers cant be choosers unless one of you has some rich billionaire uncle.

 

[Samid]

Bring on that filthy oil money

 

[Reapersoul20]

We aren't skint though

 

[sglowrider]

Yeah, 2000 years ago men and women were fed to lions for being Christian. That's frowned upon now, but it wasn't frowned upon then.

Support the Qatari royal family if you like, but don't try to justify it with this kind of shitty moral relativism that says we can't criticise something if it happened some other time or place in the universe.

Its very simple. If you find the Qataris buying United is too much. Stop supporting United if you feel so strongly against it. Its as simple as. Thats about the only thing you have control over -- unless you happen to have £5--6billion spare sitting around. But I am sure we can find a few people whinging about you as a potential owner too.

There is way too much virtue signalling going on this thread.

 

[OverratedOpinion]

I am so sure it is going to be oil money that we are going to just have to get used to the idea.

It will end up as a bidding war and realistically who is going to win that?

 

[sglowrider]

We aren't skint though

We have like 20million quid in the kitty left.

 

[Judas]

I don’t get celebrating this massively, I’m not over joyed about it, but I’ve fully accepted this was going to happen years ago. It was really the only likely way out of the Glazer mess. Feel like I’ve already made my peace with this outcome.

 

[BD]

Its very simple. If you find the Qataris buying United is too much. Stop supporting United if you feel so strongly against it. Its as simple as. Thats about the only thing you have control over -- unless you happen to have £5--6billion spare sitting around. But I am sure we can find a few people whinging about you as a potential owner too.

There is way too much virtue signalling going on this thread.

But shouldn't we be allowed to voice our unease with such owners buying the club? Or is it just a 'shut up and get out' sort of thing?

 

[sglowrider]

I am so sure it is going to be oil money that we are going to just have to get used to the idea.

It will end up as a bidding war and realistically who is going to win that?

I am sure it will be oil money. An investment group like Ratcliffe winn require an ROI on the 5-6 billion he has invested -- like a prudent investor. There is no way United can generate that sort of return anytime soon. The man's 70+ already -- doubt he will get something better than a T-bond return before he's dead.

 

[sglowrider]

I don’t get celebrating this massively, I’m not over joyed about it, but I’ve fully accepted this was going to happen years ago. It was really the only likely way out of the Glazer mess. Feel like I’ve already made my peace with this outcome.

But you are Judas... it would surprise us if you change your mind again.

 

[Reapersoul20]

We have like 20million quid in the kitty left.

And the biggest revenue and profit streams in the world football.

We are quite literally the last club that needs oil money, Christ.

 

[JJ12]

The UK journalists were very kind on Qatar during the WC.

Adam Crafton and one or 2 others were negative throughout but on the whole it was pretty kind to Qatar.

 

[Waynne]

It could be a year when everything falls into place:

City could fall off a cliff - and at best from their point of view, be severely damaged
Liverpool have already started to implode
United look to have a manager in place ready to take us to the next level

And we could be incredibly backed in the summer

The Universe will always find a way to correct itself.

 

[sglowrider]

But shouldn't we be allowed to voice our unease with such owners buying the club? Or is it just a 'shut up and get out' sort of thing?

Its been 271 fecking pages of the same thing. All about one's morals.

It ain't a new topic my friend.

 

[jeff_goldblum]

We were ripped/financially raped off for nearly decades now. So sportwashing seems a little tame or even pleasant a 'sentence'.
Benevolent owners just don't exist -- even Abromovich who was well-liked by Chelsea fans/supporters. But generally disliked by the footballing world. You just can't please everyone.

To me it is not about winning silverware. Its about financial sustainability -- we are skint. Beggers cant be choosers unless one of you has some rich billionaire uncle.

If you're able to think about it solely from the perspective of a fan of a football team, sure. I can't compartmentalise it like that. To me, seeing the club I've supported since childhood become a PR-front for a dictatorship is a far worse 'sentence' than seeing it being used as a cash-cow by some billionaires.

 

[Infra-red]

When the mail is the only place reporting something its usually safe to say it's not true.

So far apart from Talksport nobody else is backing up this news. Going to be a lot of stories over the coming days and weeks.

Yep. No reason to get too excited (or too depressed) about this or any of the other "stories" that are sure to emerge in the coming weeks and months.

 

[Tarrou]

We have like 20million quid in the kitty left.

and a billion in debt

 

[LordSpud]

We aren't skint though

Winter transfer window kitty was around 10m when Ten Hag was literally begging for reinforcements but "we arent skint though". Okay...

 

[BD]

Its been 271 fecking pages of the same thing. All about one's morals.

It ain't a new topic my friend.

But then let's just close the thread? Cause the people who are delighted about this have already had their say too.

 

[VP89]

Its very simple. If you find the Qataris buying United is too much. Stop supporting United if you feel so strongly against it. Its as simple as. Thats about the only thing you have control over -- unless you happen to have £5--6billion spare sitting around. But I am sure we can find a few people whinging about you as a potential owner too.

There is way too much virtue signalling going on this thread.

Silly post. Supporters of the club can still voice their displeasure at the new ownership.

 

[Floyd]

Maybe a stupid question, but can new stinking rich owners spend as much as they like on a new stadium and facilities and not get in FFP trouble?

FFP is only about transfers fees and salaries?

 

[devilish]

Flex is one of the decent youtube influencers. He said that he met some of the Qatari royal family during his trip in the country. They confirmed that they want to buy Manchester United and that they are massive United fans. However the bad news is that this might be a summer move. Price is 5B btw something that is being confirmed by multiple sources

 

[Reapersoul20]

Winter transfer window kitty was around 10m when Ten Hag was literally begging for reinforcements but "we arent skint though". Okay...

Extremely short term view there. I'd rather a few years of no transfers and a good owner than selling our souls to get Kane this summer.

As would anyone with basic decency or common sense.

 

[Reapersoul20]

Silly post. Supporters of the club can still voice their displeasure at the new ownership.

Completely agree. Asinine pointless, argumentative,childish posting.

 

[Rightnr]

It’s funny how everyone is quick to determine the morality level of this consortium. Journalists have mentioned its not QSI and wealthy private Qatar individuals. Is morality now depends on country origin with Ratcliffe British origin makes him better? Cant we just wait before identity is revealed before jumping to opinions

It has that distinct breath of Brexit xenophobia around it, doesn't it?

That is not to say these guys are saints in any shape or form but the knee-jerk use of words like 'state', 'dictator', etc. without citing sources or seemingly any research, is pretty telling.

Ratcliffe has also got dirty laundry and it has been well documented in this (and other threads). What really annoys me is people jumping to conclusions without even knowing what's what to begin with.

Learn and then judge. And if you want to cry, go abuse the Glazers first because they are the ones who are asking for a sum that only people on the less to more disgusting/questionable scale of morality can qualify.

I tire of the morality argument but if you want to have it, let's please base on facts, not randomer-down-the-pub thinking and analysis

 

[VP89]

Flex is one of the decent youtube influencers. He said that he met some of the Qatari royal family during his trip in the country. They confirmed that they want to buy Manchester United and that they are massive United fans. However the bad news is that this might be a summer move.

Flex knows no inside information.

 

[JJ12]

We have like 20million quid in the kitty left.

Most of our recent signings have been on tick too

 

[OverratedOpinion]

Maybe a stupid question, but can new stinking rich owners spend as much as they like on a new stadium and facilities and not get in FFP trouble?

FFP is only about transfers fees and salaries?

Correct

 

[BD]

Winter transfer window kitty was around 10m when Ten Hag was literally begging for reinforcements but "we arent skint though". Okay...

But we spent a heap last summer? You hardly expect us to spend £100m+ every transfer window?

 

[RedSky]

Completely agree. Asinine pointless, argumentative,childish posting.

Too much Viagra in his coffee.