Sheikh Jassim sends legal letters to Man Utd over 'defamatory' jibes from Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Manchester United
Sheikh Jassim sends legal letters to Man Utd over 'defamatory' jibes from Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Sir Jim Ratcliffe beat Sheikh Jassim in race to purchase stake in Man Utd
INEOS chief recently suggested Qatari banker wasn't real and couldn't provide proof of funds
Sheikh Jassim's legal team have written to Man Utd

By Sean Walsh
Apr 4, 2024
Sheikh Jassim has not been impressed
Sheikh Jassim has not been impressed / James Baylis - AMA/GettyImages
Lawyers representing Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani have 'sent legal letters' to Manchester United regarding recent comments made by the club's minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe beat off competition from Sheikh Jassim to purchase a 28% stake in United, completing his onboarding to the club in February.

During one of his first interviews with the media after officially joining United, Ratcliffe joked Sheikh Jassim might not even be a real person due to his low profile all throughout the takeover saga.

"Still nobody's ever seen him, actually," he said of Sheikh Jassim. "The Glazers never met him...he never...I'm not sure he exists!"

Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe was hardly complimentary about Sheikh Jassim / Eric Alonso/GettyImages
Ratcliffe also confirmed inferences made in the club's United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings that Sheilh Jassim could not produce proof of funds and exaggerated the size of his offer.

The Athletic report the legal representatives of Sheikh Jassim and his Nine Two Foundation used to table offers to United have written to the club to complain of 'a pattern of demonstrably false and defamatory' made by Ratcliffe. They also want corrections made to the club's SEC filings.

Though Sheikh Jassim and the Qatari camp believe they had achieved preferred bidder status at some point in 2023 after submitting a fifth offer worth up to $7bn, this was never confirmed by anyone at United in writing and their SEC filings corroborate that they never received any financial assurances and commitments from them.

Meanwhile, Raine Group - United's financial advisors throughout the takeover saga - confirmed to The Times in February that Sheikh Jassim was indeed real despite Ratcliffe's suggestions.

Raine Group's co-founder Joe Ravitch said: "We met Jassim. He was in New York. He's a lovely guy; a very smart guy. The Qataris were very real. They were very smart guys, very thoughtful. I don't know why they didn't appreciate the value (of the club) but we were not their adviser.

"We tried as the seller to explain the value to them, and they put what they thought was a series of very serious bids on the table."

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Atalanta respond to Liverpool & Juventus' interest in Teun Koopmeiners
Atalanta claim they have received 'no direct interest' for Teun Koopmeiners
Liverpool and Juventus said to be watching the 26-year-old
Koopmeiners has asked for a move this summer

By Katie Catherall
Apr 4, 2024
Koopmeiners wants to leave
Koopmeiners wants to leave / Marco Luzzani/GettyImages
Atalanta have denied receiving direct contact from interested clubs regarding midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, despite him being linked with a move to Liverpool.

Serie A star Koopmeiners has been making headlines for months, scoring 11 goals in 26 appearances in the league already this season. He's been heavily linked with a move away, and reports from Italy claim Liverpool and Juventus are among the clubs eyeing up the Netherlands international.

However, Atalanta have revealed they have not received 'direct interest' from any clubs, with director general Antonio Percassi recently asked about rumours linking Koopmeiners with an exit.

He told Mediaset: "Let's just say that Atalanta do not need to sit down and talk about their players at this stage. It's normal that Koopmeiners and others are doing well, so consequently can attract interest from various clubs.

“However, we have not received any direct interest. We'll see later on, we'll sit down and talk once the season has closed, and whatever we do will be with the objective of strengthening the squad."

Teun Koopmeiners, Fabio Miretti, Isak Hien, Danilo, Weston McKennie, Andrea Cambiaso
Koopmeiners impressed against Juventus and will soon take on Liverpool with Atalanta / Jonathan Moscrop/GettyImages
Despite Atalanta rubbishing any immediate movement on Koopmeiners, the midfielder has already admitted he does plan to leave in the summer and could see himself playing in England.

Speaking to De Telegraaf in March about his future, he said: "I told Atalanta that next summer I want to leave. Already last year there was a concrete interest from Napoli but in the end, the clubs couldn’t find an agreement.

"My girlfriend and I love life in Italy, but for some clubs in England, I'd be willing to tolerate the rain! I hope that options arise that I can reflect on. And I also hope that Atalanta receives a good sum, because I had a wonderful time in Bergamo."

Koopmeiners' Atalanta will ironically face Liverpool in the quarter-finals of this season's Europa League.

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European giants line up surprise move for Xavi ahead of Barcelona exit - report
Ajax are on the lookout for a new manager this summer with John van 't Schip set to depart
The Amsterdam side have shown interest in Barcelona's Xavi
Ex-midfielder is set to leave the Spanish club at the end of the season

By Katie Catherall
Apr 4, 2024
Xavi is set to leave Barcelona
Xavi is set to leave Barcelona / Angel Martinez/GettyImages
Ajax are considering a move for Barcelona head coach Xavi if he departs the Spanish club as planned at the end of the season, according to a report.

Xavi announced in January that he would leave Barcelona in the summer, with the 44-year-old planning to take some time off before returning to management. His future at Barca remains uncertain as those in power at the club believe they can persuade him to stay.

However, if they are unable to, Ajax are ready to swoop in and offer a deal to see him take over in the Eredivisie.

AFC Ajax v Feyenoord - Dutch Eredivisie
Ajax have endured a disappointing season / Masashi Hara/GettyImages
SPORT report Ajax have listed Xavi as a potential candidate to take over from current manager John van 't Schip, who was appointed as interim boss back in October 2023. The report says that the Amsterdam club value Xavi's experience as a former player and his consideration in handling young talent - he has helped oversee the development of the likes of Pedri, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde and Pau Cubarsi while at Barcelona.

Van 't Schip has detailed his plans to leave the club in the summer, with his tenure as interim boss coming to an end. Ajax are currently having a poor season, sitting fifth in the Eredivisie table and a whopping 31 points off leaders PSV Eindhiven.

Xavi's future still hangs in the balance at Barcelona, but ultimately it will be up to him whether he stays or goes. He announced his departure off the back of a home loss to Villarreal, but they have since gone on an unbelievable run of form, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals and boasting an 11-match unbeaten run.

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