Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly looking to buy a 25 percent stake in Manchester United; Rory McIlroy, a boyhood fan of the football club, has been announced as part of a £173 million strategic investment led by consortium Otro Capital in Formula 1 team Alpine
Last updated: 10/21/23 11:02 PM
Rory McIlroy said he is open to the prospect of investing in Manchester United and welcomed Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s proposed involvement with his boyhood club.
The 34-year-old Northern Irishman, who helped Europe win the Ryder Cup in Rome a few weeks ago, was speaking at the Circuit of Americas in Texas after acquiring a stake in Formula 1 team Alpine.
McIlroy, along with former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, Liverpool and England star Trent Alexander-Arnold and former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata have been announced as part of a £173 million strategic investment led by consortium Otro Capital in Alpine.
Ratcliffe is reportedly looking to buy a 25 percent stake in United, which would allow him to take over the football operations at Old Trafford.
McIlroy said: “Ownership of sports teams used to be limited to private equity and people who had a lot of money. But now sports stars are becoming smarter and using their money in the right way.
“I would love to own a small percentage of the club I grew up with as a boy.
“I would have liked to take 0.00001 percent of Manchester United, while Jim Ratcliffe took 25 percent. And if another opportunity comes my way I will look at it. But it is not something that has come onto our table yet. “
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Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol explains what Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s deal to buy 25 percent of Manchester United will mean for the club
“There’s Tom Brady in Birmingham and there’s a couple of golfers – Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas – who have invested in the 49ers Group, and they own a little piece of Leeds. They asked me if I wanted to come on board, and I said if As a Man United fan I can’t go near that!
“Sir Jim has a great track record and anyone who supports United should be excited about the possibilities if they give him full sporting authority and decisions for the club. As a fan I am excited.”
McIlroy finished as Europe’s top points scorer with Marco Simone after a convincing 3&1 singles victory against Sam Burns on the final day took his tally to a personal best of four points for the week.
He had been involved in angry scenes the night before following the actions of Patrick Cantlay’s bagman Joe LaCava on the 18th green, who then gestured angrily towards Justin Thomas’ caddy Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay in the parking lot.
Three weeks later, McIlroy was asked if he regretted the incident.
“Jeez, no, not at all,” he said. “I felt like what happened in the parking lot moved the team and benefited us.
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An irate Rory McIlroy confronted Team USA caddy Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay in the parking post round after an incident on the 18th hole
“Things happen in the heat of the moment. Tensions were high, but Joe came into the European team room on Sunday evening and had a drink and a chat. I’ve had a great relationship with Joe over the years and it wouldn’t be like that. change.
“The incident happened. I didn’t want to meet anyone on Sunday morning because I wanted what happened to fuel me and my focus was on making sure Europe won the Ryder Cup, and then we’ll take care of everything else. And it’s all fine. We’re all friends.”