A year is a long time in football and it feels even longer when Manchester United are concerned.
Today (Wednesday, November 22) marks the first anniversary of the Glazers announcing they would listen to offers, effectively firing the starting gun on a sale process that could lead to their eventual departure from Old Trafford.
Manchester United also announced on that very same day that a certain Cristiano Ronaldo would be the departing the club after hitting out at the manager and hierarchy.
The process has proved so tortuous and protracted that United's takeover has almost become a feature of the English football landscape by default.
At various stages, the takeover proceeded at such a glacial pace that the prospect of the Glazers relinquishing any sort of power appeared as concrete as a hologram.
But 12 months on, the race may have finally entered its home straight with Sir Jim Ratcliffe poised to take over a 25 per cent stake in the club to the tune of £1.4billion.
The INEOS boss has beat Sheikh Jassim to the post, despite the Qatari consortium tabling a £5.5bn deal for the full control of the club.
The Glazers remain as unpopular as they have ever been in their 17 years at Old Trafford, but Ratcliffe taking control of a 25 per cent stake feels hugely significant.
As ever when it comes to the United owners, however, nothing is straightforward and while the deal was agreed back in October, it is yet to be formally ratified.
Here, Mail Sport charts the key stages of what has been an interminable takeover process.
November 22, 2022
In a move that sends the proverbial shockwaves through the world of football and beyond, the Glazers declare they are ready to sell Manchester United and will listen to offers in excess of £5bn.
The
Read on m.allfootballapp.com