24th March 2023 – (Helsinki) Finnish businessman Thomas Zilliacus has reportedly made an offer to purchase the English football club Manchester United. The current owners, the American Glazer family, had announced their intention to sell the club in November of last year.
Zilliacus, who worked for Nokia as Asia Director in the 1980s and 1990s, has estimated the market value of Manchester United to be less than the reported 5.45 million U.S. dollars. He believes the club’s true value to be around 3.6 billion euros or 3.9 billion U.S. dollars.
The Finnish businessman has become wealthy through a variety of business ventures including real estate transactions, share investments and starting companies. He has also had experience in the world of sports, having served as chairman of Finnish football club HJK and co-owner of professional ice hockey team Jokerit, based in Helsinki.
Zilliacus is not the only potential buyer of Manchester United. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the wealthiest man in Britain, and Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani have also been linked to the club. Paris Saint-Germain owner Nasser Al-Khelaif is believed to be involved in the offer made to United as well.
Representatives of United’s current owners are waiting to see if there will be more purchase offers. However, UEFA regulations prohibit ownership in multiple clubs that play in the same competition. Ratcliffe, who already owns French club OGC Nice and Swiss club Lausanne, would not be allowed to purchase Manchester United outright. Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), which owns PSG, is reportedly aiming to become a minority shareholder in Manchester United.
The potential purchase of Manchester United comes at a time when the club has been struggling on the pitch. They are currently in 5th place in the English Premier League, behind rivals Manchester City and Liverpool. The club’s manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has faced criticism from fans and pundits for his tactics and team selection.
Despite these issues, Manchester United remains one of the most valuable football clubs in the world. They have a loyal fanbase and a rich history of success, including 20 English league titles and three European Cup/Champions League titles.