Man Utd warned they could become Qatari ‘plaything’ amid takeover talks
Brendan Rodgers, the manager of Leicester City, is concerned that Manchester United could become a “plaything” following the official bid by investors from Qatar to buy the club.
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the chairman of QIB, one of Qatar’s largest banks, submitted an official offer to acquire Manchester United on Friday.
The Raine Group is managing the sale of the club on behalf of the Glazer family. However, there is significant competition for the acquisition, with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS confirming their bid on Saturday, in addition to other US consortiums.
The Qatari bid has already sparked controversy and hostility, partially due to the well-documented human rights issues in the Middle Eastern country.
In addition to the amount of money being invested in football in general, Brendan Rodgers, whose Leicester team visited Old Trafford on Sunday, also has concerns about the potential acquisition of Manchester United by investors from Qatar.
Asked for his opinion on the deal in his pre-match press conference, the Foxes’ manager said: “When you go back, it used to be the richest guy in the city who owned his local club and it was a great honour for him. Those times have changed.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult. For the likes of ourselves, money can distort reality, and I think it’s important the governance of the game is looked after.
“With that, I mean keeping the playing field as equal as we possibly can, otherwise it will become a top four or then a top six or seven.
“It’s challenging. When teams can go out and spend the money they can, it’s inevitable that the levels between clubs will grow further apart.”
Leicester City have been owned by the Thai-based King Power group since 2010, and their ownership has been widely praised by fans for their success both on and off the pitch. Brendan Rodgers hopes that any potential new owners of Manchester United prioritize the interests of the fans over their own financial gains.
He added that it is acceptable for investors to bring financial backing, but it is important that their intentions are genuine and aligned with the best interests of the club.
“Football in this country means everything, it does to a lot of people around the world, but I only tell from here in Britain that it really does mean everything.
“It’s a really competitive league, it’s amazing to be involved in, there are so many challenges tactically and qualitatively, but at the same time, you don’t want any club to be a plaything.
“We all are only custodians for the clubs. To look after them for the supporters. That’s what I’ve always felt is important.
“If I look at our ownership here, yes, they are a very wealthy family, but the fans are at the heart of everything they do – the experience they try to give them. I’m sure that other clubs have their stories of how they’ve helped their communities.”
Man Utd warned they could become Qatari ‘plaything’ amid takeover talks
