Qatar denies Man United bid

The Qatar Investment Authority's executive chairman has denied making a takeover bid for Manchester United.

Permission was granted last week for United to launch a flotation on the Singapore Stock Market, allowing the club to open dialogue with potential investors.

The development fuelled discussion about the future ownership of United, with reports suggesting that Qatar prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani was in London to negotiate a £1.6bn purchase of the club.

Sheikh Hamad, who is also Qatari royalty and executive chairman of the QIA, says he has no interest in assuming control of the Premier League club.

"That's not true," said Sheikh Hamad in an interview on the Qatar-owned Al Jazeera channel.

"We announced a few weeks ago that we did not negotiate that. A lot of people talk about 'Qatar now will buy this, they will pay that.' This also makes the price good for anything that will be sold."

The precise details of United's plans were not announced when their planned floatation was given the go-ahead, although it is thought the Glazer family are looking to sell 25 per cent of the club, which they hope will net them £600 million.

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