If Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is successful in his effort to purchase Manchester United, the best players from Sir Alex Ferguson's most successful teams would be given the opportunity to return to Old Trafford in key positions, insiders have informed ESPN.
The "Class of 92" group of homegrown stars like Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, as well as key players from the club's most recent Champions League-winning team of 2008, could now represent United at various levels if such a decision were made.
According to sources who spoke to ESPN, Sheikh Jassim is determined to address the problem of the absence of the team's most illustrious players within the United hierarchy in order to ensure that the team benefits from the profile and expertise of former greats in a similar way to clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan, who all employ some of the team's most illustrious players in senior roles.
Several members of the treble-winning club and Champions League champions from 2008 have reportedly already been contacted by Sheikh Jassim's officials to talk about the proposition, according to sources.
The only former player employed in a top position at United is technical director Darren Fletcher, despite the fact that the club also employs former players Bryan Robson, Denis Irwin, and Andrew Cole in ceremonial ambassador roles.
Ferguson, the former manager of United who left the organization in May 2013, had advocated for the club to follow Bayern in promoting former players to management positions, but the Glazer family, United's owners, did not heed his advice.
Jim Ratcliffe, the richest man in Britain, and Sheikh Jassim, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), are vying to acquire United from the Glazer family, who have controlled the Premier League team since May 2005.
United is governed by the six Glazer siblings, and according to sources who spoke to ESPN, Joel and Avram, the club's co-chairmen, are eager to maintain their position if outside funding can be raised to support their plans to rehabilitate the squad and Old Trafford stadium. Meanwhile, Kevin, Edward, Bryan, and Darcie Glazer Kassewitz are preparing to sell their shares.
The New York investment bank Raine Group has set a deadline of April 28 for third offers to purchase the team, and according to insiders engaged in the process, if the Glazers decide to sell, a preferred buyer will be chosen soon.
Elliott Management, Ares, Sixth Street, and Carlyle Group, four American investment firms, have all expressed an interest in obtaining a stake rather than a full buy-out and may be named as future partners by the Glazers should Joel and Avram decide to remain at Old Trafford.
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