Finnish businessman Thomas Ziliakos said today that the fans of English football club Manchester United will be at the heart of the proposed acquisition of the Premier League giant, to take their opinion on major issues such as the development of the “Old Trafford” stadium and building the team. Ziliakos finally joined the race to buy the club, owned by the American Glazer family, which announced in November its desire to sell the club, which won the league title 20 times.
Ziliakos (69 years), founder and chairman of the investment company “Mobile Future Works”, entered a third party in the club’s purchase, along with Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, noting that the last two parties submitted their offer. The second last week.
The US fund Elliott Investment Management, which sold AC Milan for $1.3 billion last year, has reportedly made an offer to buy a minority stake in the club.
No figures have been disclosed by the Rain Group, which is handling bids on behalf of Glazer, but some sources have indicated initial bids are in the range of £4.5 billion ($5.5 billion). The Glazer family set the purchase price at £6 billion. Ziliakos, who was reported to be a supporter of United, confirmed that he preferred the model that depends on buying the club that won the Champions League 3 times, and then selling shares to its fans around the world. “He (United) was there long before all those people chasing him were born and he will be here long after all those people are dead,” he told the Eye newspaper. And he added, “The backbone of that institution is the masses, and in this regard it is very important that they be at the center of decisions.”
In recent years, United fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with Glazer’s policy in the management of the “Red Devils” club, as they stormed the “Old Trafford” stadium with the aim of postponing its match against Liverpool in 2021, in protest at not welcoming the American referee. Ziliakos confirmed that if his offer to buy the club is accepted, the fans will be allowed to have a say in key issues such as a possible redevelopment of the “Old Trafford” stadium and team building, but not the selection of the team. Although he arrives late in the takeover battle, Ziliakos insists that his investment group must be seen as a serious competitor to the rest of the parties.
