British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, founder of global chemical group Ineos, has acquired a 25% stake in Manchester United, a prestigious English professional football club.

"Ratcliffe has agreed to buy up to 25 percent of the company," the Manchester United team announced on Saturday. Ratcliffe will acquire up to 25 percent of Class B shares and 25 percent of Class A shares owned by the Glazer family, while the Glazer family and Class A shareholders will receive the same 33 dollars per share, the club said. The deal will be completed through the approval process including the English Premier League.

According to local media, Ratcliffe's 25 percent stake in Manchester United is reportedly priced at 1.35 billion dollars. This includes 300 million dollars that he plans to invest separately in Old Trafford, Manchester United's home stadium.

Manchester United, which was acquired by American sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer in 2005, has had its children as co-owners since the death of the Glazer in 2014. Public opinion has emerged that the Glazer family will step down as the former coach Alex Ferguson has failed to produce any significant results since his retirement in 2013. The Glazer family effectively announced the sale in November last year, saying, "We have decided to find a strategic alternative for the future of the club."

As the board of directors of Manchester United has delegated responsibility for the management of the club's soccer operations to Ineos as part of a deal, attention is focusing on what kind of changes it will bring to the team. Manchester United ranks eighth in this season's EPL with nine wins, one draw and eight losses. 스포츠토토

Ratcliffe said, "Our common ambitions are clear. We all want to see Manchester United rise to the top of English, European and global football."

Ratcliffe acquired Swiss professional football club Roseanne Spor in 2017 and in 2019 bought a stake in French professional football league 1 Nice through ineos to become the owner of the club.