British government figures welcomed Qatari investment into Manchester United Football Club as its owners consider a £4 billion bid from the gulf state.
“Britain should absolutely be embracing foreign investment into this country from the Middle East, whether it’s in football or green energy,” said a senior U.K. trade envoy when asked about the potential sale of one of the world’s most famous football clubs into Qatari ownership.
The bid by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, the chairman of the Qatari Islamic Bank, would be a “good investment,” according to a minister who is a prominent member of the U.K. government and has a close interest in the proposed deal.
Both influential people spoke under the condition of anonymity. The U.K. government was not actively involved in the sale of Manchester United, according to a representative of the Department for Business and Trade, and the department has “no view at all” on Qatar’s offer.
The U.K. government has recently come under fire for its initiatives to deepen economic ties with Qatar and other Middle Eastern nations alleged to have violated human rights. According to documents leaked last year, a member of its trade department attempted to assist in the sale of Newcastle United to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2021.
On Wednesday, representatives of al-Thani’s met with Manchester United’s management at Old Trafford. The Qatari is now thought to have the best chance of winning the auction over Jim Ratcliffe, the other bidder. After holding a majority stake in the club for 18 years, the American Glazer family wants to sell.
Although observers have expressed doubt about the country’s independence from the tiny but extremely wealthy Qatari state, Al-Thani has insisted that neither the country’s sovereign wealth fund nor the government are involved in his bid.
According to a source close to the sheikh’s bid, if it is successful, they are “confident” there won’t be any interference from the U.K. government because “Qatar is a close ally of the U.K.”
“Sheikh Jassim wouldn’t put himself out there if he didn’t believe the bid would succeed.”
