Sheikh Jassim feels 'let down' after failing to buy Manchester United as new details come to light

It has since emerged Sir Jim Ratcliffe is now set to buy a 25 per cent stake in United instead.

The Brit had been hoping for a complete takeover but, with Joel and Avram Glazer reluctant to sell the club, his flexibility has worked to his advantage.

And football finance expert Kieran Maguire, speaking on his podcast The Price of Football, has revealed Sheikh Jassim feels 'let down' by the family.

“From what I understand, there was a $1.7-billion reconstruction fund," he said.

"Which would have gone not only to issues on the pitch but perhaps, more importantly, the state of Old Trafford which is not fit for 21st-century football.”

He added: “Sheikh Jassim said, ‘Well actually, I have been reasonably successful and part of the reason I've been successful is that I don’t get my trousers taken down in negotiations'.

"I think they just feel very let down by the attitude of the selling party."

Maguire also thinks United may suffer if Ratcliffe and the Glazers decide to do business with each other.

He fears Old Trafford being left to rot, with the stadium needing refurbishment and redevelopment to complete with the best.

And Maguire also thinks the Glazers are happy to run United 'on a mediocre basis'.

“Sir Jim Ratcliffe is absolutely brilliant at turning around failing businesses but football is not like any other industry," he continued.

"The view was that it’s 25 per cent now with a view to being able to have a controlling stake by 2026.

"That’s three years down the line. Is that another three years of leaking roofs?

“Joel and Avram [Glazer] are very enthusiastic about Manchester United.

"They think it’s completely undervalued because they don’t see it as a football club and that would be my concern.

“Manchester United is a cash cow without having to be successful on the pitch because it’s got that status as one of the grandees of world football.

"So why not run it on a mediocre basis?

"Aim to get fourth or fifth. From next season, the top five are going to be in the Champions League.

"Aim to be in the top-five and settle on that.

"Sacking the coach is an irrelevance, the Glazers certainly aren't interested in the game."

Ratcliffe could appoint two key figures at United if his bid to secure a 25 per cent stake ends up being successful.

One person whose job at Old Trafford is safe, however, is manager Erik ten Hag.

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United have endured a slow start to the season, winning just four of their opening eight Premier League matches.

But Ratcliffe is a huge fan of Ten Hag and wants the 53-year-old to stay, and be successful, at the club.