Why Sheikh Jassim has withdrawn his Manchester United bid

The Glazer family's valuation of Manchester United has been branded "fanciful and outlandish" after Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani withdrew his offer to buy the club.

Sheikh Jassim held final discussions with the Glazers in the last few days about the possibility of buying United but was informed his offer, believed to be around £5billion, was short of their asking price.

Sources have cited United's current valuation of $3.2bn behind Sheikh Jassim's decision to pull out of the bidding. Sheikh Jassim increased his offer from his opening bid on February 17 and his final bid was almost double the $3.2bn valuation.

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It is understood Sheikh Jassim "desperately" attempted to convince the Glazers to sell the club they have owned for almost 18-and-a-half years.

Sheikh Jassim had no intention of buying a minority stake in United as allowing the Glazers to remain majority stakeholders was not aligned with his vision of new ownership.

The Manchester Evening News revealed in September that Sheikh Jassim was concerned the Glazers would not sell United.

The Qatari's offer was for 100 per cent control of United and a fully cash bid that would have cleared the club's debt, with the promise of revamping Old Trafford and plans for community projects across Manchester.

The MEN wrote in February Joel and Avram Glazer, the United co-chairmen, are reluctant sellers and their opposition to selling United has intensified this calendar year.

Due to the money being poured into football by Saudi Arabia, as well as new formats of the Champions League, Club World Cup and World Cup in the offing, sources who deal with the