Two events have been lengthy believed to be the entrance runners to takeover Manchester United, however a 3rd get together fronted by Finnish businessman Thomas Zilliacus has emerged as one other contender.
Zilliacus, who based and now chairs funding firm Cellular FutureWorks, desires to purchase the membership in a 50-50 partnership that palms a big quantity of energy over to the followers. “No extra sheikhs and oligarchs controlling soccer!”, he tweeted on 23 March.
I’ve put in a bid to purchase Manchester United along with the followers, who can have equal say on all sporting issues. No extra sheiks and oligarks controlling soccer! #Manchester_United #ManchesterUnited #ManUnited
— Thomas Zilliacus (@TZilliacus) March 23, 2023
The decided Finn then known as on his rivals to hitch his bid as an alternative of ‘throwing away cash in a mad rush to outbid one another’. Zilliacus additionally stated he’d be keen to hitch one other consortium if his personal bid for United is unsuccessful.
Like Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Zilliacus has loads of expertise within the sporting subject as he is the previous chairman of Finnish membership HJK Helsinki and ex-owner of ice hockey membership Jokerit. However, how does he stack up financially in comparison with his most important rivals within the bidding for Manchester United?
Zilliacus’ web work is not publicly recognized. Nonetheless, it is believed that the Finn does not boast the extent wealth of Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim.
His enchantment for the three main events to purchase the membership collectively, mixed together with his intention to get followers concerned with the acquisition would additional assist that the Finn lacks the monetary would possibly of his rivals.
Boyhood United fan Ratcliffe made an unsuccessful try to purchase Chelsea final 12 months following the exile of Roman Abramovich. He’s considered one of Britain’s richest males, together with his web price estimated to be someplace between £11bn (Forbes) and £6bn (Sunday Occasions).
In keeping with the Sunday Occasions Wealthy Listing, he’s the twenty seventh richest man within the UK.
How a lot Sheikh Jassim himself is price is considerably unclear, however given his place as Qatar Islamic Financial institution (QIB) chairman and the household that he is part of, it is protected to imagine he is bought entry to billions.
His household, Qatar’s royals, is price round £275bn as a collective, and Forbes estimates that his father, a former Prime Minister of Qatar, has a private wealth of £892m.
