Former Manchester United bidder has revealed he is planning and interested in taking control of the Premier League club
Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Ziliakas has revealed plans to approach investors in a bid to buy Manchester United. He also insists he is open to working with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and other stakeholders.
Ziliakas was one of a number of people to come forward with a bid for United in 2023 when the Glazer family declared they were considering selling some or all of their stake in the club. But his fan-centric proposal came too late and Ineos, led by Ratcliffe, acquired a nearly 30 per cent stake in the team and took over football operations.
There were rumors this week that the club could re-enter the market, with potential interest from the UAE. Saudi Arabia’s Turki al-Sheikh even suggested that the businessman was in “high-level negotiations” with the United board.
Mr Ziliakas has now announced his intention to approach potential investors, including Mr Ratcliffe, to acquire a stake in United or the Premier League club as a whole.
He told the Manchester Evening News: “Last week I sat down and thought about all the possibilities for investing in Manchester United and drew up a master plan on how I could approach certain parties to see if something could be done.
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“This is about working with the appropriate parties, with the sole aim of restoring Manchester United to its place as the best club in the world.
“So my love for the club is not going anywhere and I think there are still opportunities. So any chance to talk to the key players and see what we can do would be very welcome.”
“It would be great if today’s key players, Ratcliffe of course, and other parties wanted to come on board as well. I think with some investors it’s almost all-or-nothing. So either they own the club alone or they’re not interested. So we’ll have to find investors who are willing to look at what’s best for the club, not what’s best for the investor.”
Ziliakas says he intends to incorporate fan-led initiatives if he gains any control over the club and insists his bid is not a takeover in itself. He claims this is something the Glazer family currently denies.
“Unfortunately, I think this is a great example of the Glazers not having a real interest in the club and instead using the club as a cash cow,” he added. “But either way, they’re not doing what they’re supposed to do.
“I have a program to engage overseas fans who are unable to come to games, and my program can evolve in a way that can bring significant new revenue to the club.”
“With that money, the club will be able to do everything it needs to do to become the best football club in the world, the best players, the best manager and the best football club in the world that everyone wants to be there.”
Ziliakas also said he would be willing to work with any investors, including another former bidder, Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim. “I actually have no problem working with people, whether it’s Jim Ratcliffe or investors or whoever it is, because I’m not in this business to get a trophy to show off to other people.”
“I’m working on this to make the club I’ve been a fan of since I was 12 the best club in the world. Looking at today’s situation, my heart wants to scream. “Manchester United is far below what a club should be and what it could be if things were run right.
“When I made my bid, I realized that the Glazers were playing a game with Jim Ratcliffe, Sheikh Jassim, and myself just trying to outbid each other, so the price just kept getting higher and higher.
“I said publicly that this is madness and that this is money that should be spent on the club, not making the Glazer family even richer. So I said, ‘Why don’t we join forces and take over the club together?’
“I’m still completely open to that and would be happy to talk to Sheikh Jassim, Jim Ratcliffe and other investors about how we can work together.”
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