da cassino online： The Qatari banker has been described as a discreet operator and had flown under the radar in the Middle East until he launched his bid to buy United
da cassino： Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the frontrunner to buy Manchester United, has been described as a private and reserved individual who is little known in business circles in Qatar and the Middle East, according to a report in .
The Sheikh, the son of the former Qatari Prime Minister, is also likely to be receiving backing from the state for his £5.5 billion takeover bid for the Red Devils as he only earned approximately £1.5 million from his role as board member of Credit Suisse, which he served on for six years and appears to be one of his most prominent roles.
GettyGraduated from military school aged 16
According to the report by , Sheikh Jassim entered the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1997 at the age of 15 and graduated the following year at the age of 16.
That would make him one of the youngest students at Sandhurst, where officers usually enter at the age of 18 or at post-graduate level at the age of 21 or above.
He studied Commissioning Course 973 and was part of Inkerman Company, along with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is the current emir of Qatar.
Previous Sandhurst graduates include Winston Churchill, Prince William and Prince Harry and Muammar Gaddafi.
AdvertisementGetty Images Previous discussions about buying United
The report also reveals that Sheikh Jassim was part of discussions to buy United back in 2010 when the Red Knights, a consortium of wealthy Red Devils' fans, launched an ultimately failed bid to buy the club from the Glazers.
Jassim attended meetings in Doha alongside other members of the Qatar royal family and according to a source consulted by he seemed "very interested in the idea".
GettySmoking and looking 'uninterested' in meetings
The report states that Jassim was known for smoking in the middle of meetings with his various companies. While alcohol is prohibited in Qatar apart from in certain hotels, there is no law against smoking.
Jassim's business associates consulted by also said he was "difficult to read" in meetings and sometimes appeared uninterested.
"It was not uncommon to see him cross his legs, look away from the table and, once again, start puffing on a cigar," adds the report.
Getty'Likes nice things'
Although Jassim is said to be a private and reserved figure and in that respect is very different to INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe, his only rival to buy United, the report adds that the Skeikh "likes to have nice things" and therefore wants to own the club because it will give him a greater status and presence.
Qataris have invested in prestigious British department store Harrods plus skyscrapers the Shard and the Empire State Building and United, the best-supported and most successful club in English football, is seen as another "trophy asset".