Explosive documents reveal concerns over Sheikh Jassim bid for Manchester United

For much of last year the process around the proposed sale of Manchester United focused on Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and his Nine Two Foundation potentially acquiring the club.

The chairman of the Qatar Islamic Bank, a member of the Qatari Royal Family and son of the former Qatar Prime Minister, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, had appeared for so long to be the front runner ever since his interest in acquiring United came to the fore in early 2023.

At that time the potential for a full sale of the club appeared on the table, with the Glazer family seeking options for either a minority or majority deal just a week after Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group had sought to test the water in a similar fashion.

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The prospect of significant wealth arriving and a changing of the guard at the top at Old Trafford, something long called for by United fans, had created a buzz around the potential sale of the club to Sheikh Jassim. As recently as August it was widely reported that the Glazers had accepted a £6bn bid for the club.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who ended up concluding a deal to acquire 25 per cent of the club on Christmas Eve in a deal worth £1.2bn that would allow him and his INEOS team oversight of football matters, had been in the race alongside Sheikh Jassim from early in the process, but it was the latter who had been reportedly in the box seat.

But the process has been laid bare in revealing documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States, where United had raised concerns