International

The Libyan dictator Colonel Gadaffi very nearly bought the biggest shareholding stake in Manchester United, according to financier Mehmet Dalman, who ultimately engineered the Glazer family’s takeover a few months later.

In 2004 Dalman, who had purchased a 2.5% stake in the club while running the investment arm of Germany’s Commerzbank, was asked by Irish racing tycoons John Magnier and JP McManus to sell their 29.9% shareholding. The pair had fallen out with manager Alex Ferguson over ownership of the horse Rock of Gibraltar. At the time it was the biggest stake in United and whoever owned it could effectively control the club.