Man U may MISS Champions League even if they make top 4 if Ratcliffe takes over

In: Sport

MANCHESER UNITED could miss out on the Champions League even if Jim Ratcliffe takes over and they finish in the top four.

Fans already knew rival bidder Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani might need to prove he has no influence on PSG should he buy out the Glazers.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe owns Nice and in one scenario that could mean Man Utd battling it out with the French club for a Champions League spotCredit: PA
Manchester United’s owners the Glazers, including Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer, could yet remain at Old Trafford in some capacity

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Manchester United’s owners the Glazers, including Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer, could yet remain at Old Trafford in some capacityCredit: AFP

But the new revelation is a further blow to both takeover hopes and what comes after that.

The issue stems from Ratcliffe, Britain’s richest man, owning Nice.

Under Uefa rules, that would mean if United and the French top-flight club both finish in Champions League qualification spots, only the side finishing higher would enter the competition.

So if Nice come third in Ligue 1 and United finished fourth in the Premier League, then Ratcliffe’s Frenchmen would make it.

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The Red Devils’ future remains up in the air, though.

And Nice are currently seventh – 13 points behind Lens in third.

United, meanwhile, are favourites to cling onto a top three place in the Prem.

But the dilemma leaves Ratcliffe facing two tricky scenarios.

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The biggest obstacle of course is that the Glazers are reportedly holding out for around £6nillion to sell up.

The other issue is whether the Ineos boss would consider offloading Nice – to focus on the Red Devils and end potential hurdles like Champions League qualification.