Sheikh Jassim could have been the outright owner of Manchester United, had things gone his way.
The 66-year-old Qatari billionaire was previously in the running for a full takeover at Old Trafford before INEOS head honcho Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed a minority purchase of the club in February 2024. Since then, problems both on and off the field have plagued INEOS' current reign at Old Trafford, with high-profile drama surrounding the exits of former boss Erik ten Hag and ex-sporting director Dan Ashworth.
United currently sit 15th in the Premier League table this season, having won just eight times so far in the league this campaign. Despite Ratcliffe's criticisms, Jassim has not yet re-ignited his previous offers to buy United and just this week, Avram Glazer responded with a brutal answer that he is not looking to sell up just yet.
READ MORE: 'We did not exist' - what Ruben Amorim told Manchester United players at half-time vs Everton
READ MORE: What Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim said about Alejandro Garnacho's reaction to being dropped
According to Bloomberg, the Glazers have the opportunity to sell the entirety of United later this year which could effectively force the premature end of Ratcliffe's reign. Both parties agreed to this measure when the deal was completed at the back end of 2023.
However, Ineos have first refusal on the American family's shares should the Glazers backtrack on their current stance. Ratcliffe has previously declared his interest in a full takeover of the club.
But, should he pass up this opportunity, you can imagine Sheikh Jassim will re-enter the race for a full takeover. MEN Sport has taken a closer look at the Middle East businessman amid the potential for him to bid again for United.
What is Sheikh Jassim's net worth?
Forbes has previously relayed information that they believe Jassim's net worth to be in the region of $1.2 billion, with United valued at a tidy sum of $6 billion. Actual figures on his net worth are unclear.
However, Investopedia estimates the Qatari Al-Thani family, to which Sheikh Jassim is a part, has an estimated net worth of $172.9 billion.
Who is Sheikh Jassim?
Information about Sheikh Jassim is scarce but he is known to be the chairman of the Qatari Investment Bank (QIB). As mentioned, he is also a member of the ruling Al-Thani family in Qatar.
He has spent most of his working life in banking and has previously been on the board of Credit Suisse. His father, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, was the prime minister of Qatar between 2007 and 2013.
Why does Sheikh Jassim want to invest in United?
Despite living in the Middle East, Sheikh Jassim is a big United supporter and thus his desire to purchase the club stems from those childhood roots. His consortium which bid to purchase the Reds in 2023 was named the Nine Two Foundation in homage to the famous Class of '92.
What is Sheikh Jassim's vision for United?
After his bid was made public, the Nine Two Foundation released the following statement about his intentions. "The bid plans to return the club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and – above all – will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United once more," they wrote.
"The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the club supports. The vision of the bid is for Manchester United to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world.
"More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops."
