British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe said he had spoken to Manchester United owners about purchasing the Premier League giants but was told by the Glazers the club was not for sale.
In August a spokesman for Ratcliffe said the head of Ineos petrochemicals "would be interested in talking" to the Glazers "with a view to long-term ownership" of the 20-time English champions, though no official bid was launched.
The Glazers, who bought United in 2005 in a leveraged buyout that saddled the club with a mountains of debt, have long been accused of taking more out financially than they have invested in terms of transfer funds or in redeveloping the club's crumbling Old Trafford ground.
United's net debt had grown by nearly 23% to £515 million ($565.78 million) by September, while on the pitch the team has not won a trophy in more than five years.
"Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family, whom I have met," Ratcliffe told an event hosted by the Financial Times on Tuesday. "I've met Joel and Avram [Glazer] and they are the nicest people, I have to say, they are proper gentlemen.
"They don't want to sell it. It's owned by the six children of the father and they don't want to sell it."
Bloomberg reported in August that the US-based Glazer family would consider selling a minority stake in the Premier League club as pressure mounted on their ownership.
United's Premier League home game against Liverpool in May last year was postponed because of an organised protest by United fans against the owners.
Thousands of supporters marched to Old Trafford in protest before the same fixture this season, in August.
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Fans take part in an organised protest march outside Old Trafford ahead of Manchester United match against Liverpool on August 22, 2022. PA -
Fans walk to the Old Trafford ground ahead of an organised protest against the Manchester United owners. PA -
Fans take part in an organised protest march outside Old Trafford. PA -
A man sells scarves outside the Old Trafford ground. PA -
Manchester United fans protest ahead of the Liverpool match. Action Images -
Fans arrive amidst high police security. EPA -
Fans arrive amidst police presence. EPA -
Fans arrive amidst police presence. EPA -
Police watch over fans outside Old Trafford. EPA -
Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo arrives at Old Trafford ahead of the Premier League match against Liverpool. Getty -
A banner protesting the Glazer family’s ownership of Manchester United outside the stadium before the match. Action Images -
Raphael Varane of Manchester United arrives at Old Trafford and signs autographs for fans. Getty -
Scott McTominay of Manchester United arrives at Old Trafford. Getty -
Lisandro Martinez arrives at Old Trafford. Getty -
Tyrell Malacia of Manchester United arrives at Old Trafford. Getty -
Manchester United's David de Gea and Anthony Martial arrive at Old Trafford to face Liverpool. Getty -
Bruno Fernandes signs for fans at Old Trafford. Getty -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Old Trafford. Getty -
Fred looks happy ahead of the Liverpool clash. Getty -
Christian Eriksen arrives at Old Trafford. Getty -
A fan has a photo taken in front of a banner protesting the Glazer family’s ownership of Manchester United. Action Images -
Stewards outside the stadium before the match against Liverpool. Action Images -
A banner outside Old Trafford. Action Images -
A banner is displayed protesting the Glazer family’s ownership. Action Images -
Stewards outside the stadium before the match. Action Images -
Fans walk to the ground ahead of an organised protest against the Manchester United owners. Getty -
Fans walk to the ground ahead of an organised protest against the Manchester United owners. Getty -
Liverpool fans hold pictures of Manchester United's owners and sing songs in their support. AFP -
Police keep watch outside the ground ahead of an organised protest. Getty -
Fans walk to the ground ahead of an organised protest. Getty -
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Shirts protesting about the Glazer ownership of Manchester United are sold outside the stadium. Getty
"If it had have been for sale in the summer, yes, we would have probably had a go following on from the Chelsea thing, but we can't sit around hoping that one day Manchester United will become available."
Manchester-born Ratcliffe failed this year in an attempt to buy London club Chelsea, who were ultimately bought by an investment group led by American Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Through Ineos, Ratcliffe already owns or has significant stakes in several sports teams, including French Ligue 1 football club Nice, Swiss side FC Lausanne-Sport, the former Team Sky cycling franchise, and also sponsors Formula One team Mercedes. He said purchasing a different Premier League team is not out of the question.
"We have an exciting sporting franchise [Nice in France's Ligue 1], but the one thing we don't have is a Premier [League] team," Ratcliffe added.
"The most popular sport in the world is football and it is the sport we were brought up with and it's the one most close to us. We really should have an asset in the sporting franchise."
Everton v Man United ratings
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EVERTON PLAYER RATINGS: Jordan Pickford – 6. Will be annoyed that, having done well to reach Antony’s shot, he was unable to prevent it going in. Bailed out Gueye with a smart stop to deny Eriksen, then improvised to prod the ball away from Martial, but had no chance with Ronaldo’s winner. Finished the game as a makeshift attacker. AFP -
Seamus Coleman – 6. Spent the majority of the night up against Rashford and stuck tight to his man, despite the athletic mismatch. His safety-first approach in possession appeared to frustrate the home support, but made a vital clearance to deny Ronaldo a second-half tap-in. AFP -
Conor Coady – 6. Blocked well from Eriksen’s eighth-minute shot. Faced a bigger challenge when Ronaldo replaced the half-fit Martial and had no answer to the Portuguese’s pace for United’s second of the evening. Suffered a bloodied nose for his troubles. Getty -
James Tarkowski – 6. Made a brave block from Dalot after the Portuguese had burst into the Everton area. Increasingly sought to start attacks as the game wore on with long-range passes, but with mixed results. Given a VAR reprieve for Rashford’s disallowed effort after diving in. Reuters -
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 5. Kept on his toes by Antony during a busy first period. Landed awkwardly after an aerial challenge with the Brazilian but played on. Had a far quieter second half as the majority of the play took place on the opposite flank. Getty -
Alex Iwobi – 6. Broke the deadlock with a fine curling effort. Pressed well from the front and lent support all over the field, but was crucially caught in possession by Casemiro for Ronaldo’s landmark goal. Operated as an auxiliary right-back as Everton committed numbers forward in the later stages. AFP -
Idrissa Gueye – 5. A peripheral start manifested in surrendering possession for Antony’s leveller, then almost cost his side a second by passing straight to Eriksen. Sharpened up thereafter, but was always chasing after his slopping opening. PA -
Amadou Onana – 7. Hassled Casemiro into surrendering possession for Iwobi’s opener. Picked up a booking for bringing down Antony, having gifted the Brazilian possession, but was largely very tidy and troublesome to United. Headed over a half-chance 20 minutes from time and a better opening in the last minute. EPA -
Demarai Gray – 5. Took an early knock from Casemiro but quickly recovered to assist Iwobi’s opener. Switched flanks with Gordon for the latter stages of the first half. Got himself into some decent positions as Everton pressed to level, but too often was unable to pick out a teammate. Getty -
Neal Maupay – 4. Chasing shadows throughout the game as United bossed possession and largely reduced Everton to long punts. Given little change by Lisandro Martinez and was latterly replaced by Rondon as Frank Lampard looked for a less subtle route of attack. Reuters -
Anthony Gordon – 4. Looked too keyed-up throughout. Suffered an early rush of blood and overhit his first cross, then, perhaps frustrated by his limited involvement, attempted to muscle his way into the game and picked up a yellow for an overzealous challenge on Fernandes. Getty -
SUBS: Dwight McNeil (Gordon 67’) – 5. Introduced to add the attacking thrust Gordon failed to provide, but was equally unable to make inroad into United’s left-hand side. PA -
James Garner (Coleman 75’) – N/A. Given 15 minutes against his former side and came closer than anyone to forcing an equaliser when his curling effort was superbly tipped away from the top corner by De Gea. Reuters -
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Gueye 76’) – N/A. Came on for his first outing of the season and met a rapturous reception, but he was let down by a misfiring supply line. Getty -
Salomon Rondon (Maupay 84’) – N/A. Lampard’s last throw of the dice, but didn’t have enough time to impact and was unable to get on the end of a string of deliveries. Getty -
MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: David De Gea – 7. Unsighted for Iwobi’s curling fifth-minute shot. Read a dangerous Everton move well on 32. Didn’t have much to do, but a vital 91st-minute save as Everton pushed for an equaliser they didn’t deserve in a frantic end and a flurry of corners. Reuters -
Diogo Dalot – 6. Fine run forward on eight before his shot was blocked. Lost the ball to give Everton a chance on 33. His pass towards Eriksen was picked up by Iwobi in an erratic first half for the Portuguese. Getty -
Victor Lindelof – 7. 200th game for United. Happy to feed the ball into the wide triangles demanded by Ten Hag as United moved up to fifth after a win against a side six unbeaten. Helped that he had Casemiro in front. Reuters -
Lisandro Martinez – 7. Strong against a side who’d not lost a league game since August. His manager always wants intensity. Never any shortage from the Argentine. Almost got on the end of an Eriksen free-kick on 63 and once again had more touches than any player on the pitch. AFP -
Luke Shaw – 8. Back in the side after Malacia’s poor form and his own encouraging performances for England and against Omonia. Looked comfortable and made several key recoveries against Iwobi. Smart defending on corners. Encouraging. EPA -
Casemiro – 8. First Premier League start after only 82 minutes in the league but caught on the ball and dispossessed in a move which led to Everton’s opener. Made a positive challenge a few minutes later as he settled down, but he should’ve scored a free header on 42. Set up Ronaldo for the second, a quick pass forward after winning the ball. Can defend. Brought balance, strength, experience, and an attacking threat. EPA -
Christian Eriksen – 7. Best performance for a few weeks. Combined well with Rashford and comfortable in possession. Set pieces hurt Everton and he was involved in much of United’s attacking play. Swung a shot over on 73. Reuters -
Antony – 8. Scored again, another excellent strike to equalise. Could run into gaps which were not there but always had a go – which Jadon Sancho wasn’t doing before getting dropped. Best player in first half, quieter in the second, but still worth his place. EPA -
Bruno Fernandes – 7. Just one goal this season, but he was involved in one. Smashed by Gordon, who was booked for the fifth time this season, on 63. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford – 8. Fast and effective on the left – in a tough battle with Colman too. Fine cross for Casemiro on 42. Thought he’d scored a third, but VAR said otherwise. Getty -
Anthony Martial – 7. Excellent in Nicosia on Thursday, he was lively in the few minutes he played at Goodison, setting up Antony for United’s equaliser. Real shame he had to go off after 27 minutes. EPA -
SUBS: Cristiano Ronaldo (Martial 27’) – 8. After a couple of bright runs, ran onto a ball to score his 700th club goal to help United to a fifth win in six league games. Won the ball to set up a 66th minute counter, which he was waiting to finish. Reuters -
Scott McTominay (Eriksen 83’) – NA. Picked up his 5th yellow card within minutes, meaning he’ll be banned from playing against Newcastle next weekend. Getty -
Raphael Varane (Antony 90’+2) – NA. Got his head to two Everton corners in a testing finish for United. United survived it though. Reuters
United are currently fifth in the Premier League table following a 2-1 win over Everton on Sunday in which star forward Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 700th goal in club football.
The Red Devils are next in action on Thursday when they take on Cypriot minnows Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League group phase.
Erik ten Hag's side won the reverse fixture last week 3-2 having trailed 1-0.
