Sir Jim Ratcliffe stance in buying Liverpool emerge as Conor McGregor expresses interest in buying the club
Liverpool have been put up for sale as Fenway Sports Group seeks new investment, but Manchester United fan and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has denied any interest in purchasing the club.
Despite Ratcliffe’s interest, the Glazers are not interested in selling the club, he stated. There had been rumors that Ratcliffe would purchase Manchester United.
Speaking last month, Ratcliffe said (via Daily Mail): “Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family, whom I have met. They don’t want to sell it.
“If it had been for sale in the summer then, yes, we would have probably had a go following on from the Chelsea thing, but we can’t sit around hoping that one day Manchester United will become available. We have an exciting sporting franchise [including OGC Nice].”
After failing to acquire Chelsea this summer, it appears that Ratcliffe is ready to concentrate on OGC Nice, a Ligue 1 club acquired by the Ineos investment team in 2019. At least he will not use his wealth in the future to assist Liverpool.
A spokesperson for Ineos said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News: “Our position has developed, and we are now focusing efforts in Nice and raising ambitions for the club to make them into a top-tier club in France to compete with PSG. This would represent much better value to our investment than buying one of the top-tier Premier League clubs.”
Conor McGregor expresses interest in buying Liverpool
Conor McGregor has disclosed his desire to purchase Liverpool from Fenway Sports Group.
In response to a report claiming that the club is for sale, the American company issued a statement on Monday confirming that they “would consider new shareholders.”
A statement to The Athletic read: “There have been a number of recent changes of ownership and rumours of changes in ownership at EPL clubs and inevitably we are asked regularly about Fenway Sports Group’s ownership in Liverpool.
“FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders in Liverpool. FSG has said before that under the right terms and conditions we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club.
“FSG remains fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch.”
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are reportedly assisting Liverpool’s hierarchy in the process of selling the club, and it remains to be seen whether the Reds will receive any offers.
I WOULD LOVE IT! I requested my information on this, yes. Soon as I heard. What a turn of events! What a club! @LFC https://t.co/HD0ELlhKOH
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 8, 2022
McGregor, a well-known Manchester United supporter, has emerged as an unexpected candidate to become Liverpool’s next owner after expressing interest in purchasing the club on Twitter.
McGregor responded to a fan who pleaded with him to purchase Liverpool by stating: : “I WOULD LOVE IT! I requested my information on this, yes. Soon as I heard. What a turn of events! What a club!”
The 34-year-old, a two-division UFC world champion with an estimated net worth of approximately £173 million, declared his support for Liverpool’s fierce rivals Manchester United in 2019.
Speaking during a FIFA Q&A, McGregor said: “I was more a player than a watcher back then, but Manchester United was my team.
“It was only the other day I came across an old picture of myself wearing that infamous grey United jersey, which I bought with my [First Holy] Communion money at eight years of age. I see my son when I look at that photo. I’d love to know where it is now. A truly ‘Notorious’ football jersey!
“I was attracted to the success and winning mentality of the club and people surrounded by United. Irish legends like Denis Irwin and Roy Keane were dedicated to their craft and had that winning mentality. Roy Keane was one of the best midfielders European football has ever seen. Opponents would be mentally beaten before they’d even stepped on to the pitch to face him.”
McGregor did indicate prior to the Champions League final between Liverpool and eventual champions Real Madrid in May that he supports both Jurgen Klopp’s side and the Spanish giants.
“You know, my family are Liverpool, I’m a supporter of Liverpool,” McGregor said before kickoff via the Daily Mirror. “I’m a supporter of Real Madrid also. I hope for a great game but I’ll have to go with the pool [Liverpool] for this one, I’ll have to go for the pool.”
Should McGregor decide to submit a bid for Liverpool, he will reportedly need to pay £4 billion to convince FSG founder John W. Henry to sell the club.
McGregor could face competition from the Ricketts family, who own the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball, whereas British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has ruled himself out of contention to purchase the Merseysiders.
Liverpool are currently eighth in the Premier League table, 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal. Since FSG took control of the club in 2010, Liverpool have won eight trophies.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe stance in buying Liverpool emerge as Conor McGregor expresses interest in buying the club
