Rio Ferdinand’s takeover prophecy was proven wrong as soon as Sheikh Jassim pulled out of the race to buy Manchester United.
MEN Sport understands that the Qatari prince has withdrawn from the bidding process and believes the Glazers asking price to be “fanciful and outlandish”.
Jassim offered £ 5bn to buy the club outright in June, a concession the American billionaires were unwilling to make. It is now expected that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will acquire a 25 per cent stake in the club, paving the way for a complete takeover further down the line.
The British billionaire will pay around £1.3billion for a minority shareholding but reports suggest he will be given “sporting control” at Old Trafford. READ MORE: United takeover latest - live updates READ MORE: Why Joel Glazer hasn't been attending United fans' forum The news has divided United fans, with many viewing the Middle Eastern offer as superior given similar takeovers at Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Newcastle United.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk