What Barcelona manager Xavi said about Manchester United bidder Sheikh Jassim

Sheikh Jassim has the backing of Barcelona manager Xavi to become the next Manchester United owner.

The Qatari banker remains in the running alongside British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe to become United's next owner. Reports coming out of Qatar earlier in the week had suggested his takeover bid to purchase the Reds had been successful, before the owner of the media outlet that shared the news backtracked on those claims.

It means the saga continues to drag on following the Glazers' declaration that they were open to selling the club last November. Since then, there have been five rounds of bidding with Sheikh Jassim setting a deadline for last Friday for a resolution and is now believed to no longer be actively participating in discussions around his bid.

With no announcement in sight, the club's future is very much still up in the air as fans hope for clarity following the opening of the summer transfer window. And while Sheikh Jassim is by no means set to go ahead with his acquisition of the club just yet, he would have the endorsement of Xavi should he eventually do so.

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Speaking ahead of United's Europa League win over the eventual La Liga winners in February, Xavi said Sheikh Jassim would 'do a good job' for United.

"I have a good relationship with the person interested in buying the club, he’s a serious person and I’m sure he’d do a good job," Xavi said of the Qatari banker. "I know him so well. I think he’s a very good person with responsibility, serious. I think it would be a very good option for United."

When pressed on how he knows the United bidder, the Barcelona coach responded: "Because I worked in Qatar (at Al