WHY GLAZERS CHOSE INEOS FROM SHORTLIST OF TEN PARTIES

HOW SIR JIM WON BATTLE FOR CONTROL

- TYRONE MARSHALL

SIR Jim Ratcliffe won the battle for control at United after 10 parties submitted initial offers or indications of interest to Raine for a stake or ownership of the club.

The US bank were contacted by more than 170 parties interested in the club between November 2022 and the start of 2023, before the process was streamlined in the first two weeks of February, at which point Ratcliffe's talks with the bank tasked with overring the strategic review intensified.

In new filings to the New York Stock Exchange, after Ratcliffe agreed to take a 25 per cent stake in the club, it has been revealed that the first round of bids saw seven expressions of interest for taking a minority investment in United, while Ratcliffe's first proposal was to take a controlling stake by purchasing Class B shares, rather than the Class A shares the Glazer's wished to sell.

After months of talks, a deal was eventually agreed for Ratcliffe to purchase Class A and Class B shares and the documents revealed he will own 27.69pc of United, which comes with a voting interest of 28.71pc.