Sir Jim Ratcliffe has vowed to make Manchester United the “number one club in the world again” after confirming Ineos has launched a takeover bid.
Ratcliffe’s Ineos company will compete with wealthy Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, to acquire the Old Trafford club from the Glazer family.
Ratcliffe, 70, is one of the UK’s wealthiest people with an estimated net worth of £12.5billion following the success of his global chemical company.
“We can confirm that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have submitted a bid for majority ownership of Manchester United Football Club,” a statement, released to the PA news agency, read.
“We would see our role as the long-term custodians of Manchester United on behalf of the fans and the wider community.
We are ambitious and highly competitive and would want to invest in Manchester United to make them the number one club in the world once again."
Here’s how Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s staggering wealth compares to owners at Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton, Tottenham, West Ham and all the Premier League rivals?
1. Brentford - Matthew Benham
Reported net worth: £25m Photo: Clive Rose
2. Nottingham Forest - Evangelos Marinakis
Reported net worth - £505m Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS
3. AFC Bournemouth - Bill Foley
Reported net worth: £1bn Photo: Ryan Pierse
4. Southampton - Dragan Solak and Katherina Llebherr
Reported net worth: £1.05bn Photo: GLYN KIRK