Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), chaired by Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, is exploring the possibility of buying a controlling stake in Brazilian club Santos.
The move comes amid a group led by Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani aiming to buy Manchester United from the Glazer family. The Americans are deeply unpopular among the club's fans, with the Red Devils having gone a decade without winning the Premier League title.
Yet the uncertainty over that situation rumbles on with QSI now in the process of examining a move to buy Santos - who want more economic capacity. They have even asked the club’s president Andres Rueda for the financial accounts of Santos to be studied ahead of a potential move.
The information is detailed in Brazilian outlet Globo which details how the father of Neymar – who started his career at the club before joining Barcelona – has acted as an intermediary in the potential takeover plans.
United are in a state of flux currently with deep uncertainty over the club’s ownership situation. The Glazer family have continually pushed back their deadline to complete a sale of the club with the ownership situation at Old Trafford still unclear, despite their intentions of listening to offers – both majority and minority investments – coming over six months ago.
The third and final deadline for bids came earlier this month with a group led by Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim taking on a bid from INEOS, run by Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Yet the Glazers remain at the helm.
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At least two of the six Glazer siblings – Joel and Avram – are understood to prefer an option which would see an outside investor buy a stake in the club to help finance huge capital projects like the redevelopment of the Old Trafford stadium and Carrington training ground.
Alongside owning 100 per cent of PSG, QSI has a 21.67 per cent stake in Portuguese club Braga – widely recognised as the fourth biggest club in the nation – but they are hopeful of becoming investors in another European club in continental competition, alongside at least one South American club.
QSI want to emulate the City Football Group, of which 81% is majority owned by Abu Dhabi United Group. They own Manchester City, Mumbai City, Melbourne City and New York City while holding stakes in seven other clubs including Brazilian club Bahia.
