Sir Jim Ratcliffe has revealed he was charmed by the Glazer Family after meeting to discuss the Manchester United takeover.
Supporters are still no closer to discovering who will buy United. Ratcliffe's bid and an offer from Qatar remain on the table for the American family, who could decide to remain in power at Old Trafford after all.
Several 'deadlines' have passed with very little movement. The future of United remains unclear despite the transfer window opening.
In an extract from his latest book, Ratcliffe has revealed his first impressions of meeting the Glazers when United came on the market. He was 'charmed' by them, as The Times reveals.
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“We went to see them and they were charming," he wrote. “They [Avram, Joel, Kevin, Bryan, Darcie and Edward, children of the late Malcolm Glazer] are all very nice, despite the press they get.
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"Joel was really hospitable. But the club is owned equally by siblings and you can’t talk to that many siblings, really.”
Ratcliffe has also revealed how INEOS tried to buy 50 per cent of Barcelona only a few years ago. He advised Joan Laporta not to activate the 'levers' for short-term gain by selling their TV rights.
“We told them, “Don’t do it, guys – we’ll put in two or three billion, renovate the Nou Camp and have 50 per cent ownership – and sign a deed to say we’d never sell. Our interest was in football alone, not making money. I think it would have worked well.
“We talked about it but, in the end, they didn’t think they could go to the fans with it. The road they are going down is a disaster. We tried to point that out and they said, ‘We know, but . . .’ They are all short-termers [Barcelona regimes] because the president comes in, does it for five years and hands the mess over to someone else.”
