Four-time major golf champion, Rory McIlroy, has expressed interest in potentially investing in the esteemed football club, Manchester United. This comes on the heels of news that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is poised to acquire an initial 25% share in the club.
In what can be seen as a seismic shift in the club’s ownership landscape, Ratcliffe seems to have emerged as the front-runner in the acquisition race. This became evident after Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani stepped back from his intentions to acquire the club just last week. The British magnate’s potential £1.35 billion bid, if accepted by the board, would render him significant authority over the club’s sporting decisions.
Adding an intriguing twist to the tale, McIlroy, who recently became a stakeholder in the Alpine Formula One team, hinted at a possible interest in the football club. Speaking to Sky Sports before the US Grand Prix sprint race, McIlroy shared his sentiments.
He remarked, “Sports team ownership used to be limited to private equity and people who had a ton of money. But now sports stars are becoming more savvy and using their money in the right way.”
Reminiscing about his childhood memories of the club, he added, “I would love to be able to own a tiny percentage of the club I grew up cheering on as a boy. I would have loved to have taken 0.00001 per cent of Manchester United when Jim Ratcliffe took 25 per cent.”
While he remains open to the idea, McIlroy clarified, “And if another opportunity comes my way, I will look at it. But it is not something that has come across our table as of yet.
