Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani has officially ended his pursuit of a Manchester United takeover following the club’s disastrous 2024/25 season, which saw United finish 15th in the Premier League and lose the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. Despite previous reports suggesting the Qatari group might consider another bid, Sheikh Jassim has now given up hope of acquiring the club, with sources confirming there is no appetite for a renewed attempt after the frustrations and outcome of the earlier process with the Glazer family.
The Qatari consortium, which had previously tabled a £4.5 billion offer, withdrew after failing to reach an agreement, paving the way for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS to acquire a minority stake in United for around £1.25 billion. Since then, INEOS has been intent on maintaining its shares, having invested significant effort in reshaping the club’s direction. This stance, combined with Sheikh Jassim’s decision to step back, means the club’s ownership is expected to remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.
Fan discontent remains high, with recent protests targeting both the Glazer family and the new INEOS leadership amid continued on-field struggles and unpopular cost-cutting measures. Manager Ruben Amorim described the campaign as a “disaster” but expressed determination to restore the club’s fortunes, aware that pressure will only intensify next season.
Sheikh Jassim not reviving his interest in a Manchester United takeover leaves INEOS and the Glazers in control as the club seeks to recover from one of its worst seasons in recent memory.