1️⃣3️⃣ Months 5️⃣6️⃣ Lawyers The breakdown of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Manchester United deal is eye-watering

Man Utd takeover: How much sale cost as Glazers net £715m after 13 months and 56 lawyers

As we approach a month since Sir Jim Ratcliff’e’s investment in Manchester United was confirmed, further details about the billionaire’s stake are coming to light

It has come to light that Manchester United paid Raine group a substantial £24.9 million to facilitate the sale of a quarter of the team to Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

After a protracted 13-month process, Ratcliffe acquired his stake; on Christmas Eve, the transaction was published. The British millionaire has previously visited with club employees, including first-team manager Erik ten Hag, and attended a game at Old Trafford. He anticipates his £1.3 billion investment being approved in February.

In November 2022, the Glazer family—who own the majority of the team—first declared they would consider selling. The story came to a conclusion when Ratcliffe sealed the deal that will see him take over football operations, although there was interest in a full takeover from Qatari financier Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, among other possible approaches.

After more than a year, fans will be happy to see something resembling a conclusion, but those who are against the Glazers won’t be happy that they’re still in their positions. And now the entire cost has been revealed, with the club paying the tab instead of its owners.

The Telegraph, citing a filing on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), states that United agreed to pay Raine Group $31.5 million (£24.9 million) “contingent upon consummation of the proposed transactions” in an engagement letter. However, this is only a portion of the cost.

Reimbursements “to indemnify Raine and related persons against various liabilities, including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws” are among the other payments that have been agreed to. A seven-figure cost for the legal firm Latham & Watkins LLP is also present; according to sources, 56 solicitors from various cities were called in to work on the transaction.

The Glazers, who benefited from the Ratcliffe sale with $715 million, will not be paying for any of the aforementioned expenses, according to The Telegraph. Although the club will cover that, the owners will be responsible for paying for the individual advice that Rothschild & Co. provided them with.