Another billionaire ‘steps in’ as Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim withdraws bid to buy Man Utd - Newstrends
Connect with us

Sports

Another billionaire ‘steps in’ as Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim withdraws bid to buy Man Utd

Published

on

Another billionaire ‘steps in’ as Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim withdraws bid to buy Man Utd

QATARI banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani has withdrawn a bid to buy Manchester United, a source close to the deal told AFP on Saturday.

United announced nearly a year ago that they were exploring “strategic alternatives to enhance the club’s growth”, with a full sale one of the options.

Sheikh Jassim and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe were the front-runners after several rounds of bidding earlier this year, but the process has stalled in recent months despite the anger of supporters towards current owners, the Glazer family.

The Daily Mail reported that Ratcliffe is now set to secure a 25 percent stake in the club for around £1.5 billion ($1.7 billion).

The Glazers have owned the English giants since a leveraged takeover in 2005 for £790 million saddled the club with huge debts.

Figures in March showed United’s debt has now grown to £970 million.

Sheikh Jassim’s bid was for full control of United and promised to clear the club’s borrowings.

Further talks this week broke down despite an improved bid believed to be around £5 billion.

READ ALSO:

By contrast, Ratcliffe is reportedly willing to buy a smaller stake to break the impasse over the Glazers’ £6 billion asking price.

Founder of petrochemicals giant Ineos, Ratcliffe is a boyhood United fan and already has a portfolio of sports investments.

Ineos owns French club Nice and Swiss side Lausanne-Sport, as well as leading cycling team Ineos Grenadiers and is a major sponsor of the Mercedes Formula One team.

United’s fortunes on the field have also faded under the Glazers’ tenure.

The Red Devils have not won the Premier League since former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and last won the Champions League in 2008.

They currently sit 10th in the Premier League and have lost their first two Champions League group stage matches for the first time in the club’s history.

Fans have also been left frustrated at a lack of investment in United’s infrastructure over the past two decades.

Old Trafford remains the largest club football stadium in England, but is in need of significant redevelopment to keep pace with the facilities offered by their rivals.

READ ALSO:

United’s home was overlooked in favour of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium for the UK and Ireland’s successful bid to host Euro 2028.

The Sheikh Jassim deal also promised $1.7 billion to finance plans for a new stadium and training centre, as well investment in the transfer market on players.

But the bid by the son of a former Qatari prime minister raised concerns over the potential growth of state influence in the Premier League.

Reigning Premier League champions City’s fortunes have been transformed since a takeover from Sheikh Mansour, a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, in 2008.

In 2021, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund also bought a controlling stake in Newcastle.

Amnesty International has called on the Premier League to tighten ownership rules to ensure they are “not an opportunity for more sportswashing”.

Another billionaire ‘steps in’ as Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim withdraws bid to buy Man Utd

AFP

Loading

Sports

BREAKING: Ronaldo Retires From International Football After 23 Years With Portugal

Published

on

BREAKING: Ronaldo Retires From International Football After 23 Years With Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo
BREAKING: Ronaldo Retires From International Football After 23 Years With Portugal

Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his remarkable 23-year career with the Portugal national team.

The 41-year-old forward announced his decision on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in a video message shared on his social media accounts, saying he was ready to hand over Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt to the next generation.

Ronaldo, who made his senior international debut in August 2003, leaves the national team as the highest-scoring player in men’s international football and its most-capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.

In his announcement, Ronaldo reflected on the privilege and responsibility of representing Portugal for more than two decades.

He said: “To the Portuguese people. The time has come to hang our national team’s number 7 shirt. I never felt that it belonged exclusively to me, but for 23 years I have had the privilege and responsibility of wearing it.”

He added that representing Portugal had given him some of the most memorable moments of his football career and that the country would always remain part of him.

A career filled with records and trophies

Ronaldo’s international career began in August 2003 when he made his debut for Portugal at the age of 18.

READ ALSO:

Over the next 23 years, he established himself as one of the most successful players in international football, setting records for appearances and goals.

His major achievements with Portugal include winning the 2016 UEFA European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles, in 2019 and 2025.

He also represented Portugal at six World Cups, from 2006 to 2026, becoming the first player to score at six different editions of the men’s tournament.

His 146 international goals and 234 appearances leave him at the top of the men’s international football records.

November matches expected to mark farewell

Ronaldo’s announcement comes after a difficult period with Portugal, including a disagreement with national team coach Jorge Jesus.

The Al-Nassr forward walked out of Portugal’s training camp in September following disagreements over his playing time and his exclusion from the starting line-up.

He subsequently apologised to his teammates and Portuguese supporters, while accepting a disciplinary punishment from the Portuguese Football Federation.

The federation handed him a 30-day suspension and a fine of €255 following the incident. The suspension was backdated to October 1.

Ronaldo is expected to bring his international career to a close after Portugal’s November international engagements, with the team scheduled to face Denmark on November 14 and Wales on November 17.

His departure will mark the end of an era for Portuguese football, as the country prepares to move forward without the player who has captained its national team and broken numerous international records.

Portugal will, however, continue to have the legacy of a footballer whose name has become synonymous with the country’s achievements on the international stage.

BREAKING: Ronaldo Retires From International Football After 23 Years With Portugal

Loading

Continue Reading

Sports

Nigeria Flamingos Make History, Stun Brazil 3-1 to Reach U-17 Women’s World Cup Final

Published

on

Nigeria Flamingos Make History, Stun Brazil 3-1 to Reach U-17 Women’s World Cup Final

 

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have made history by becoming the first African country to reach the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Brazil 3-1 in a thrilling semi-final encounter on Wednesday night.

Inspired by a brilliant brace from Awawu Bashiru and an early strike from Queen Joseph, the Nigerian girls produced an impressive performance to overcome their South American opponents and book a historic place in Saturday’s final in Morocco.

Joseph opened the scoring with a close-range finish from four yards to give Akeem Busari’s side an early advantage.

Bashiru then doubled Nigeria’s lead with a moment of brilliance, sending a lofted cross over the Brazilian goalkeeper and into the net in the 71st minute.

The forward completed her brace 10 minutes later, calmly firing home a well-placed effort at the near post to extend Nigeria’s advantage and send the Nigerian bench, supporters and officials into wild celebrations.

 

Brazil managed to pull one back through Greise Kelly in the 89th minute, but it was too little, too late as the Flamingos held on for a memorable victory.

 

The triumph represents Nigeria’s first-ever victory over Brazil at this level and marks a significant milestone for African women’s football, with the Flamingos becoming the first team from the continent to qualify for the tournament’s final.

 

Nigeria will now have the opportunity to surpass their previous best achievement of winning the bronze medal in 2022 as they prepare for a showdown with Japan, who defeated tournament favourites Korea DPR in the other semi-final.

 

The eagerly anticipated final is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, in Morocco, with the Flamingos aiming to crown their historic campaign with Nigeria’s first-ever U-17 Women’s World Cup title.

Loading

Continue Reading

Sports

Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision

Published

on

Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision
Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision

Spanish footballer Jesús de Miguel has died at the age of 30 after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a league match involving his club, CD Tenerife.

The striker died on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at a hospital in Tenerife, Spain, a day after he collapsed during his team’s encounter against FC Andorra in the Spanish second division.

The incident occurred in the closing stages of Monday’s match at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium, with both teams level at 2-2.

De Miguel was chasing a long ball towards the middle of the pitch when FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed out of his penalty area to intercept it. The goalkeeper collided with the forward, striking him in the chest with his knee.

De Miguel immediately fell to the ground, prompting players from both teams to call for urgent medical assistance. Owono was shown a straight red card following the collision.

Medical personnel rushed onto the pitch and administered emergency treatment to the injured footballer before he was transported to hospital by ambulance.

During the journey, De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest, but medical personnel reportedly managed to restore his pulse through emergency resuscitation.

READ ALSO:

He was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit of Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

CD Tenerife initially described his condition as stable despite the seriousness of his injuries. However, a subsequent medical update indicated that his neurological condition had deteriorated.

He died at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

Announcing his death, CD Tenerife expressed profound sorrow over the loss of the striker and extended condolences to his family, friends, teammates and supporters.

The club also appealed for respect for the privacy of his family during the difficult period.

The tragedy has prompted a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the footballer’s death, including possible involuntary manslaughter under Spanish law.

Authorities explained that such proceedings are routinely initiated when a death is considered non-natural. The investigation does not, in itself, establish criminal responsibility on the part of anyone involved in the collision.

Meanwhile, the incident has triggered an outpouring of condolences across the football community.

Spanish football giants, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, expressed sympathy to Tenerife and De Miguel’s family.

FC Andorra also paid tribute to the deceased player, while the club’s president and former Barcelona defender, Gerard Piqué, expressed his condolences.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) postponed matches scheduled for Tuesday in the Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina as a mark of respect.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) also announced that matches across its competitions would observe a minute of silence in memory of the late footballer.

De Miguel joined Tenerife from Castellón ahead of the 2025–2026 season.

Born in Madrid in 1996, he built his career across several Spanish clubs, including Leganés B, Fuenlabrada, Unionistas de Salamanca and Castellón.

He scored 11 goals during the previous season and helped Castellón secure promotion to Spain’s second division.

His death has left teammates, supporters and members of the Spanish football community mourning the loss of a player whose career was cut short by the tragic incident.

Tragedy: Spanish Footballer Jesús de Miguel Dies at 30 After On-Field Collision

Loading

Continue Reading

Trending