Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s potential takeover of Manchester United cannot happen soon enough for the club’s fans.
The Middle Eastern businessman has reportedly won the race to purchase United after productive talks with the Glazer family.
With an end to the takeover process now seemingly close, attention will inevitably shift to what this means for the Red Devils.
Purely from a net worth point of view, it is difficult to pin down Sheikh Jassim’s actual wealth.
His father – Qatari Prime Minister Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani – is listed on the Forbes website with a net worth of £892 million.
However, Sheikh Jassim’s family reportedly have a combined wealth of £275 billion – giving them the financial clout to bid for United.
That figure would place them second on the Premier League owners’ rich list, albeit a respectful distance behind top spot.
That honour goes to Newcastle United’s Saudi Arabia ownership, with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) boasting a net worth of £506bn.
Regardless of the net worth sideshow, the primary focus for United fans will be whether the club will be able to consistently compete for major silverware in the future.
Manchester City have flourished under their Qatari owners, and their treble success last season was a bitter pill for United supporters to swallow.
With promises of significant investment in the club’s infrastructure and playing squad, Sheikh Jassim has made all the right noises.
If the deal is completed, any lingering doubts about whether he has the necessary financial clout will immediately be dispelled.
Man City have manoeuvred themselves into a position of strength in recent years, but things may well be about to change if everything falls into place.
Given their global reputation, United could blow the competition out of the water on and off the field if Sheikh Jassim backs up his promises with actions.
