Amidst the ongoing saga of the Manchester United takeover, an intriguing development has emerged from Italy, suggesting that Sheikh Jassim might be shifting his focus to the Serie A.
Reports from Tuttomercatoweb indicate that the son of the former Prime Minister of Qatar, previously seen as a potential bidder for the Red Devils, might now have his eyes set on Inter Milan.
In the recent tussle to secure the reins of Man Utd from the Glazer family, Sheikh Jassim was seen contesting against Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the magnate behind the Ineos group.
Inter Milan, who reached the pinnacle of the Champions League last year, is presently under the ownership of Steven Zhang. At just 31, Zhang made history by becoming the youngest chairman of the club in 2018.
Yet, a looming loan repayment deadline set for May 2024 has raised questions about his continued leadership. Raine Group, it seems, has been exploring potential buyers.
TMW suggest that Sheikh Jassim has entered the fray as a potential bidder for the Italian giants. Adding to the intrigue, there’s chatter about Qatar Airways potentially partnering as the new sponsor for Inter, though these talks might be on a separate track.
A significant point of contention is the valuation. Zhang’s asking price for the club stands at a whopping €1.2bn (a little over £1bn). Sheikh Jassim, as per sources, isn’t inclined to meet this valuation, leading to a current standstill in negotiations.
With no advancement in the Manchester United deal, the unfolding scenario in Italy is undoubtedly capturing the attention of football enthusiasts.
The sale of Manchester United has been in discussion since last November. Yet, none of the prospective buyers have matched the Glazers’ expectations.
