David Beckham 'rejects offers to back Manchester United takeover bids'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 19 February 2023

David Beckham 'rejects offers to back Man United takeover bids'

Manchester United legend David Beckham reportedly turns down a number of approaches to align himself with one of the prospective buyers of the club.

Manchester United legend David Beckham has reportedly turned down approaches from prospective buyers of the club to back their takeover bids.

The Glazer family are understood to have received up to five offers to purchase the 20-time champions of England before Friday's deadline passed.

One of the confirmed offers arrived from the chairman of the Qatari Investment Bank Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Beckham accepted an ambassadorial role with Qatar for the buildup to last year's World Cup and beyond, and The Telegraph reports that he was approached about the possibility of backing their takeover bid too.

Qatar already own French giants Paris Saint-Germain, to whom Beckham also has ties having played for them towards the end of his career.

Ineos chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrives for the annual Red Cross Gala in Monte Carlo on July 18, 2022 © Reuters

The report claims that the former England international has also been asked by other leading prospective buyers to lend his support to their bid to purchase the club.

However, Beckham is understood to have rejected all such approaches and will not publicly support any of the bidders ahead of the others.

In addition to the interest from Qatar, INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has also confirmed his offer to buy Man United to add to a sporting portfolio which already includes French side Nice and Swiss outfit Lausanne-Sport.

While other bids have not been made public, offers are understood to have arrived from Saudi Arabia and USA too, with Tesla and Twitter owner Elon Musk and American hedge fund giants Elliott Investment Management two other names to have been linked with a takeover.

Elon Musk pictured on August 29, 2022 © Reuters

The Glazers have placed an asking price of around £6bn on Man United - significantly more than the £3.7bn valuation of the club by Forbes last year.

None of the bids that has arrived so far is thought to have reached that figure, with Sheikh Jassim's approach understood to be around £4.5bn and Ratcliffe's closer to £4bn.

Reports have suggested that the Glazers will refuse to lower their £6bn asking price, throwing a complete sale of the club into further doubt despite the interest from various parties around the world.

Beckham, meanwhile, already owns MLS side Inter Miami and is thought to be keen to sign Lionel Messi from the Qatar-owned PSG at the end of this season.

The 47-year-old made 394 appearances for Man United from 1992 to 2003, helping the club to 12 trophies including six Premier League titles and their famous Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble in 1998-99.