Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has been linked to the latest takeover rumors surrounding the club, following fresh investment talks from the Middle East. The Glazer family have recently welcomed outside funding, with Ineos manager Sir Jim Ratcliffe taking a minority stake in the club last year.
During his 20-month spell at United, Ratcliffe made a huge impact, offering Erik ten Hag a new contract before he was sacked, appointing Ruben Amorim, and reorganizing the club’s boardroom with a number of sackings and appointments. He has also made multiple layoffs to save money.
Despite the recent investment, takeover speculation was sparked during the international holiday when Saudi government official Turki al-Sheikh announced that investors were looking to secure a contract with United. He has since clarified that he is not a potential investor, with talkSPORT suggesting they are based in the UAE.
Their report also suggests that several United legends have been approached about taking part in the bid, with certain names being floated. Journalist Ben Jacobs reported via United Stand that Cantona had directly discussed the possibility of taking on an ambassador role to support a future consortium in its bid to join United.
Ratcliffe’s bid for United was initially rumored to include potential investment from Sheikh Jassim, but that never materialised. The latest update makes it conclusively clear that Sheikh will not be returning to the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, no progress has been made on the takeover front, with the club’s current owners, the Glazer family, not having any discussions about a potential sale. Ratcliffe recently acknowledged his role in the club’s day-to-day operations, but the Glazer family appears to be ignoring that mandate. He also addressed criticism that American owners have faced over the years.
Asked about his intention to let him run the club, Ratcliffe admitted: “That’s probably the bottom line.” “We’re local and they’re across the pond. It’s a long way to go to run a big, complex football club like Manchester United.”
“We’re here with our feet on the ground. They (the Glazers) have a terrible reputation…but they’re really nice guys and they’re really passionate about the club.”
