Footballer Who Could Buy Both Manchester United and the Glazers Twice: The Story of Faiq Bolkiah
Brunei royalty and world’s richest footballer, Faiq Bolkiah would be able to afford the humongous £6bn price tag put on Man Utd by the Glazers without much hassle.
Man Utd and the Glazers could easily be bought by Faiq Bolkiah
Man Utd supporters would not need to think twice about the club’s financial stability ever again if the former Chelsea and Leicester City prospect were to purchase the club.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS announced the 25% minority takeover of the club back on Christmas Eve, which is still due to be ratified by the Premier League.
Ratcliffe was interested in a full purchase of the club but was put off by the £6bn price tag for the sale of the club, a figure that would be scoffed at by Ratchaburi FC player Faiq Bolkiah, someone who could provide the club with a war chest worth the GDP of entire countries every transfer window.
Bolkiah, who plays as a left winger in Thailand’s first division, is estimated to have a net worth of around £15.7bn.
The amassed fortune comes by being the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, being the 12th heir to the throne to the Royal’s £200bn fortune.
Bolkiah’s footballing journey
Faiq Jefri Bolkiah was born in Los Angeles, USA, and was educated in Great Britain in the world-renowned Bradfield College.
Bolkiah was on the books at a few Premier League clubs, though he was never able to make it to the first team.
The 25-year-old started at Southampton, moved to Chelsea, and then spent some time at Leicester City before leaving for a brief stint at Portugal with Maritimo, before finally settling in the Thai first division at Chonburi FC, shortly after which he made his move to Ratchaburi FC in the summer.
One of his former teammates at Chelsea’s academy, Ruben Sammut, described the Brunei royalty as being humble and down-to-earth.
Speaking to the Athletic, his former teammate said:
“You would never ever have thought he was something like the 12th in line to the throne. You would not have thought of him as royalty.
He was a humble guy, trying every day like every academy player. We used to joke he didn’t need to play football but he wanted to play because he loved football.
It wasn’t a regular thing we mentioned. It was that typical banter, saying he is royalty, saying, ‘What’s he doing playing with us?’ But we all knew deep down how much he wanted to play, so it was more good-willed passing comments.”
Ruben Sammut – the Athletic
