Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has denied rumours he has played a part in Sheikh Jassim’s attempted takeover of Manchester United from the Glazer family.
Reports emerged earlier this week claiming Al-Khelaifi, a Qatari national, had been contacted by the Glazers for his help convincing fellow countryman Sheikh Jassim to increase his bid for the club. The Nine Two Foundation have since submitted what was described as a fifth and final bid.
Concerns over Al-Khelaifi, PSG and the Qatari government’s potential involvement in Sheikh Jassim’s bid soon began to grow on social media, but the PSG president has moved to set the record straight.
“Paris Saint-Germain is my club, in my heart, and I have nothing to do with Manchester United,” he told a meeting of the European Clubs’ Association. “I gave my opinion and then apparently I’m the one who manages the deal, it’s a joke.
“It makes me laugh. I am Qatari, right? If people ask me my opinion, I will answer them for sure – and that’s what they do. I am talking about anyone, not just Manchester United. I will give them the experience that I have. That’s it.”
Al-Khelaifi stressed his willingness to offer his advice to prospective buyers by revealing he recently spoke with a group of investors who were looking at purchasing two English clubs.
“I’m not going to mention them but one was small, the other big,” he said. “I don’t know who the guy was. But I told him my opinion.”
Sheikh Jassim’s bid for United, which values the club at around £6bn and would be for 100% of the club’s stocks, was given a self-imposed deadline of Friday which has now passed.
The offer rivals that of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose bid is thought to be worth more money over time and would allow the Glazers to remain on the board.