What Elon Musk has said about buying Manchester United as he ‘considers’ £4.5bn takeover
Elon Musk has already sent Manchester United fans into a frenzy, despite the fact that his first ‘takeover offer’ was not what it appeared to be.
Forbes ranks Musk as the second richest person in the world, and he is rumored to be considering an official bid for the Premier League giants.
The Raine Group has set Friday as the soft deadline for offers; interested parties must register their interest with the company by then.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the wealthiest man in the United Kingdom and chief executive of INEOS, is the only party to have publicly expressed interest, although multiple parties are expected to submit offers.
Ratcliffe will face competition from a group of Qatari investors, the Emir of the Middle Eastern country, and Saudi Arabian and American consortiums and individuals.
And according to the Daily Mail, South African billionaire Musk is also monitoring the situation. The CEO of Tesla has a staggering £157 billion in net worth and is one of only a handful of people who could afford to purchase the club outright.
The Glazers, United’s much-maligned owners, are believed to value the club at close to £6bn, although a £4.5bn offer is expected to seal the deal.
Musk is reportedly weighing his options and determining whether the opportunity to purchase his childhood club is too good to pass up.
It is not the first time that the 51-year-old billionaire has been linked to an Old Trafford purchase. Musk sent United fans into a frenzy in August of last year when he tweeted, “I’m buying Manchester United ur welcome.”
The tweet quickly went viral, racking up hundred and thousands of interactions before clarifying his stance: “No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams.”
However he did add: “Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U. They were my fav team as a kid.”
However, he did add, “If it were any team, it would be Manchester United. They were my favorite team growing up.”
He has yet to comment on the latest takeover rumors, but as the deadline approaches, people won’t have to wait long to learn his intentions.
Musk was spotted in Arizona over the weekend watching Super Bowl LVII in an executive box with fellow billionaire Rupert Murdoch.
Musk’s business reputation has recently taken a hit due to his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, which is widely regarded as a costly failure.
Regardless, he possesses the firepower necessary to provide the “growth” that the Glazers have stated they desire for the club.
In November, the American family confirmed they were seeking “strategic alternatives for the club” after announcing their intention to end their highly controversial stewardship of United.
Gary Neville, a United legend who has been a vocal critic of the Glazers, recently endorsed David Ratcliffe, believing he will do the right thing for the club.
“The main thing is that the Glazers leave as quickly as possible and the second thing is that whoever takes it over, if they could hand it over to people who are in good hands and have a feeling for the club, that would be great,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“Jim Ratcliffe was born in Manchester and knows the area. If he wins it, I think there will be a lot of very happy Manchester United fans. He would want to do the right thing by the club – in fact I am sure that he would.
“That’s the main thing beyond the Glazers leaving, that they don’t hand it over…I don’t think United can hand it over to another investment firm who are expecting a return on their money. That’s what worries me a little bit about private enquiry coming into football and that ultimately, they are looking for a return on their money and a return on their investment.
What Elon Musk has said about buying Manchester United as he ‘considers’ £4.5bn takeover
