Golfing legend Rory McIlroy has admitted that he would ‘love’ to invest in Manchester United as their takeover saga nears an end.
90min understands that INEOS founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has agreed to purchase a 25% stake in the club. The deal is still subject to approval from club shareholders but there is belief that Ratcliffe will be successful in his bid for a minority stake.
Sources have told 90min that once onboarded, Ratcliffe will look to integrate a new three-person leadership committee at the top of the club which includes himself, current United co-chairman Joel Glazer and cycling guru Sir Dave Brailsford.
While speaking to Sky Sports, boyhood United fan McIlroy – now an investor in the Alpine Formula One team – revealed that he would have loved to have been part of Ratcliffe’s bid to purchase a stake in the club, though such an opportunity did not come up.
“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.
“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% of Manchester United when Jim Ratcliffe took 25%. 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.”
McIlroy also claimed that he had an opportunity to invest in one of United’s greatest rivals, but turned it down owing to his ties with the Red Devils.
“There is Tom Brady at Birmingham and there are a few golfers – Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas – who invested with the 49ers Group, and they own a tiny slice of Leeds. They asked me if I wanted to come on board, and I said as a Man United fan I cannot go anywhere near that!” McIlroy added.
“Sir Jim has got a great track record and everybody that does support United should be excited by the possibilities if they give him full sporting authority and decisions for the club. As a fan I am excited.”
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