PSG president Al-Khelaifi distances himself from Man United bid

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said on Saturday that he is not part of a potential Qatari-based bid to buy Manchester United.

Speaking in Istanbul ahead of the Champions League final, Al-Khelaifi distanced himself from countryman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s proposed takeover of the storied Premier League club.

“Paris Saint-Germain is my club, my heart and nothing to do with Man United,” he said of his Qatari-backed French club.

On Friday it was reported Al-Khelaifi, who is also the chairman of the European Club Association, had played a “significant” role in talks over Sheikh Jassim’s attempt to buy out United owners, the Glazer family.

Al-Khelaifi said potential investors frequently seek his advice and that he would offer his opinion about United or any other club. He said he was approached at Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix by an investor considering bids for two unnamed English teams.

“I’m not working for anyone. I want the best for football,” he said. “When this guy asked me, I tell him my opinion. So if they ask me my opinion I will answer them for sure and that’s what they do. Anyone, not just Man United. I will give them my experience that I have. That’s it.”

UEFA has a rule designed to stop owners or businesses having “decisive influence” over more than one club which qualifies for its European competitions. The rule drafted 25 years ago aims to protect the integrity of games from owners with a conflict of interest on the field.

Sheikh Jassim’s bid to buy United will stay on the table despite the passing of Friday’s deadline, sources have told ESPN.

The Qatari businessman submitted a fifth offer to buy the club last week.

It was delivered with a warning to the Glazer family and Raine Group that Sheikh Jassim would not engage with the process beyond Friday, June 9.

The deadline passed without any indication from the Glazers or Raine about whether the bid has been successful but sources have told ESPN that the offer has not been withdrawn and will remain on the table.

The Glazers are also considering a takeover bid from British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chairman and CEO of chemical company INEOS, and offers of investment from a number of U.S.-based finance groups.

The Glazers announced in November that they were exploring “strategic alternatives” after owning the club since 2005. That included a possible full sale or minority investment.

PSG is owned by Qatar Sports Investments and has spent exorbitant amounts of money on some of soccer’s biggest players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

Al-Khelaifi added that he would welcome further Qatari ownership of European teams.