Ryder Cup winner Rory McIlroy has revealed he’d ‘love’ to invest in Manchester United as Sir Jim Ratcliffe closes in on acquiring 25% of the club.
McIlroy, 34, is a boyhood United fan and believes that he would be popular among supporters with the best interests of the club sure to be in his heart. The two-time PGA Championship winner also revealed how he was offered the chance to invest alongside fellow golfers in the 49ers takeover of Leeds United.
But due to the rivalry between the two clubs, McIlroy couldn’t bring himself to invest at Elland Road. McIlroy was present at the F1 US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, after he recently made a splash in the sport.
READ MORE: Man Utd fans queue up and lay tributes for Sir Bobby Charlton at Old Trafford after his death
READ MORE: Jadon Sancho 'offered Turkish escape' route as Man Utd nightmare looks set to end
Speaking on the idea of investing at United, McIlroy said: "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.
Manchester United fans – do you like the idea of Rory McIlroy being an investor? Let us know in the comments section below
"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!
"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."
McIlroy recently invested in F1 team Alpine, who he is currently at the Circuit of Americas in Texas supporting. The Northern Irishman is one of a number of sports stars including heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata to get involved in the investment ground at the Enstone-based team.
Source: Read Full Article