Apple are 'interested in buying Manchester United in £5.8BILLION deal' as latest high-profile suitor joins the bidding after Glazers put the club up for sale
By Adrian Bishop For Mailonline11:03 GMT 24 Nov 2022 , updated 12:24 GMT 24 Nov 2022- Apple have joined the race to buy Manchester United, according to reports
- CEO Tim Cook is reportedly interested in explore the possibility of a purchase
- The Glazers announced their intention to sell the Old Trafford club this week
- The investment bankers have been the club's majority shareholders since 2005
- Conor McGregor and Elon Musk have previously shown interest in buying United
- READ: Avram Glazer breaks silence on putting Manchester United up for sale
United confirmed the sensational news that the world's biggest football club is effectively for sale in a statement issued earlier this week.
With United now available, a report from the Daily Star has claimed that the world's largest tech company may be interested in acquiring the club for £5.8billion.
The California-based tech firm has never previously owned a major sports team, but the commercial opportunities provided by United are said to be a primary factor in their interest.
Any potential deal would almost certainly become the most costly acquisition of a football club in history, surpassing the £4.25billion fee a consortium led by Todd Boehly paid for Chelsea earlier this year.
CEO Cook is just the latest in a line of high-profile individuals who have shown an interest in taking charge at Old Trafford.
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Apple CEO Tim Cook is the latest high-profile suitor to be interested in buying Manchester United, according to reports
Now-Twitter CEO Elon Musk jokingly wrote on the platform this summer that he would be purchasing the club, with the 51-year-old's post garnering more than 800,000 likes.
UFC superstar Conor McGregor has also thrown his hat into the ring, having previously expressed an interest in taking over the club.
The 34-year-old took to Twitter following the announcement of the European Super League in April of last year, writing: 'Hey guys, I'm thinking about buying Manchester United! What do you think?'
The Irishman added that he would like to acquire a sports team 'at some stage'.
'A conversation came up regarding Celtic first to be honest. To acquire shares from Dermot Desmond. I am certainly interested in acquiring a sports team at some stage! Both Celtic and Man United are teams I like for sure. But I am open. I feel I could do big things for a club.'
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Elon Musk tweeted about potentially buying Manchester United this summer
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Backlash over the American investment bankers' takeover of United was such that some supporters formed the breakaway club FC United of Manchester in protest.
Dissatisfaction over the running of United also led to the green and gold movement with fans donning scarfs depicting the club's original colours, and resulted in series of protests being staged both inside and outside of Old Trafford.
A club statement from Tuesday outlined the Glazers' intentions to sell: 'Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU), one of the most successful and historic sports clubs in the world, announces today that the Company's Board of Directors (the 'Board') is commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club.
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The Glazers confirmed this week that they are ready to sell United after 17 years at the club
'The process is designed to enhance the club's future growth, with the ultimate goal of positioning the club to capitalize on opportunities both on the pitch and commercially.
'As part of this process, the Board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the Company.
'This will include an assessment of several initiatives to strengthen the club, including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, and expansion of the club's commercial operations on a global scale, each in the context of enhancing the long-term success of the club's men's, women's and academy teams, and bringing benefits to fans and other stakeholders.'
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