Thomas Zilliacus, a Finnish billionaire, reiterated his second offer to acquire Manchester United on Tuesday.
Zilliacus announced earlier this month that he will not participate in a third round of bidding. Accusing current United owners the Glazer family of making the process a “farce.”
However, he stated that his second-round offer will remain on the table until the deadline for third-round offers on April 28.
“As stated when I announced that I would not do a new third-round bid. I have today informed the bank handling the sale of United that my bid from round two stands,” he said on Twitter. My bid has no upper limit. Negotiations with the sellers will determine the ultimate price Manchester United United We Stand, Zilliacus said.”
Last month, Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani and British businessman Jim Ratcliffe have made new bids for the Premier League team.
Several bids are believed to have been made in recent weeks. But Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe remain the frontrunners to buy United should the Glazers relinquish control of the club they purchased in 2005 for £790 million ($980 million).
United’s controversial US-based owners said in November that they were conducting a strategic review. With the sale of the club being one possibility under consideration, as well as foreign investment.
The Qatari firm is said to have made an offer of around £5 billion for full ownership of the club. While Ratcliffe, a lifelong United supporter, wants to buy the combined Glazer stake of 69 percent.
Elliott Investment Management, a US hedge fund, is said to have launched a proposal for a minority share.
The Glazers’ asking price is thought to be approximately $6 billion. Making the 20-time English champions the most expensive sports team in history.
