Revealed: Former Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi was just “hours” away from purchasing Manchester United

The stake was eventually bought by the Glazer family in 2005.

Former Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi was just hour “hours” away from purchasing the majority stake in Manchester United, according to the man who brokered the Glazer deal.

Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman told The Sunday Times he was summoned to Libya via private jet as Gaddafi looked to take control of Old Trafford.

Dalman was the man tasked with selling John Magnier and JP McManus’ 29.9 per cent shareholding, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The Irish horseracing millionaires fell out with manager Sir Alex Ferguson over the ownership of the horse Rock of Gibraltar.

Dalman, who is now chairman of Cardiff City, was tasked with the role of brokering a deal to bring a new owner into Old Trafford and claims Gaddafi was only a ‘few hours’ away from taking control of the club.

Speaking to the Times, Dalman said: “People don’t realise how the deal was a whisker away from going to Libya.

“Gaddafi almost bought the club. That’s how close it got – literally, you’re talking about a few hours.

“Seven or eight months ago we were about to buy shares in Manchester United. We kept it secret because I thought we were going to do it. But now it’s impossible.

“I told my father it would be like buying the Church of England.

“It’s very hard, maybe impossible because of the fans and the history, very difficult.

“It’s a golden, golden, golden, golden club.”

The majority stake was eventually bought by the Glazer family.

Gaddafi was killed in October 2011 after an assault on his birthplace of Sirte in Libya.