American billionaire buys almost one million Man Utd shares
American billionaire Leon Cooperman has bought close to one million shares in Manchester United as Sir Jim Ratcliffe also prepares to take a much larger, albeit still minority, stake. The Glazer family announced last November their intention to consider ‘strategic alternatives’ for United, the club they have now owned in controversial circumstances for the past 18 years. Those alternatives have included all manner of possible investment, from a full takeover to minority deals. Both Ratcliffe and former bidding rival Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani had hoped to become new owners of the Old Trafford club. But with the Glazer family pricing United at in excess of £6bn and perhaps up to £10bn, Sheikh Jassim's best offer of £5bn fell short, with the current owners also wary of selling under value. The Qatari banker withdrew from the takeover race last month as a result. Ratcliffe's offer to purchase a 25% stake actually valued the club higher overall, while allowing the Glazers ...