Manchester United’s prospective owners are taking full advantage of the Glazer family’s connections to American football.
The Red Devils’ hierarchy are understood to have received two world-record breaking bids of £5bn each this week.
However, the Glazers value the club at £6bn and could maintain control of the club if their price is not met.
But now, one of the parties interested in taking over the Premier League giants have added a NFL-themed incentive to their takeover bid in an effort to persuade the club’s American owners.
According to The Sun, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has discussed a joint venture with the Glazers which could see the NFL played in the Middle East.
As well as Man United, the Glazers also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Joel Glazer has been involved in getting teams to cross the pond and play in London to grow the sport in the UK.
And now, Sheikh Jassim is using the Glazers’ love to his advantage as he looks to have the edge on takeover rival Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bid.
A source told The Sun: “Sheikh Jassim has been very clear he wants to buy the club and has the money to do so.
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“He has been impressed with the Glazers and would like to work with them in the future.
“Part of his proposal has been that the Glazers could bring their NFL team to Qatar for an exhibition game in the national stadium in Doha.
“This would help cement Qatar’s stature as a destination for sporting spectacles and offer the Glazers a chance to spread their NFL brand and cash in.
“Sheikh Jassim has offered to insert a clause in any takeover deal guaranteeing this and it appeals to the Glazers.”
At the turn of the year the NFL committed to expanding the sport’s fanbase in other countries.
As a result the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots will play games in England and Germany.
And if the football World Cup in Qatar is anything to go off, it’s likely it won’t long until NFL is played over in the Middle East, too.