British Businessman Jim Ratcliffe failed in attempt to buy 50% stake in Barcelona
According to The Times, Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire founder of Ineos, made an attempt to purchase a 50% stake in FC Barcelona. This information was revealed in an extract from a new book about Ratcliffe's life, with 'Times Sport' providing details about his bids to acquire Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as his previously undisclosed endeavor to buy into the Catalan club.
Ratcliffe, known for his ownership of Ligue 1 side Nice, has been seeking to expand his influence in the sports world. The book reveals that he approached Barcelona with an offer to purchase half of the club and promised to inject billions of dollars into its finances. Subsequently, he turned his attention towards acquiring control of Manchester United.
According to the publication, Ratcliffe had an "interesting conversation" with Barcelona's president at the time, Joan Laporta, and maintained a positive relationship with him. However, Ratcliffe was dismayed to learn that Laporta and the club's board were considering selling a portion of the team's television rights to alleviate financial difficulties.
"We advised them against it, offering to invest two or three billion and renovate the Camp Nou while ensuring 50 percent ownership. We even proposed signing a deed to guarantee that we would never sell our stake," Ratcliffe revealed. He further emphasized that their interest was solely focused on football and not driven by profit, expressing confidence that the plan would have been successful.
Ratcliffe expressed disappointment, stating that Barcelona ultimately believed they couldn't present the proposal to the club's members, known as socios. It is worth noting that the socios hold significant decision-making power within the club.
In summary, The Times reported that Jim Ratcliffe, the founder of Ineos and owner of Nice, made an unsuccessful attempt to purchase a 50% stake in FC Barcelona. Despite offering a substantial financial injection and assurances of long-term ownership, the proposal did not progress as Barcelona opted not to present it to their socios. Ratcliffe's pursuit of investments in major football clubs demonstrates his ambition to extend his influence in the sporting world.
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