Apple may be interested in buying Manchester United from the Glazer family, according to reports originating from the Daily Star.
It comes after the club’s current owners announced on Tuesday that they were “exploring strategic opportunities” for United, including a possible sale.
Should Apple decide to acquire the club for a quoted £5.8bn, it would make them the richest fooitball team in the world – out-gunning both Manchester City and Newcastle. The tech giant has an annual revenue northwards of £326bn and its net worth is £2tn.
Newspapers today say that its CEO, Tim Cook will be lining up talks with the banks which have been appointed to oversee the sale.
While it may seem an unlikely move Apple, it has previously stated it was on an “aggressive hunt” for potential deals to add more sports content to its Apple TV streaming service, in order to boost subscription.
In June Apple signed a $2.5bn contract to stream Major League Soccer on its platform for the next 10 years.
And to put the United pricetag in further context, a few months earlier, Amazon agreed a $1bn per year deal to broadcast live NFL football in the US.
Apple isn’t the only suitor reportedly interested in the Old Trafford football club. Manchester Evening News says Zara founder, Amancio Ortego, is in the mix.
The 86-year-old is worth $61.3bn, but has previously only invested in retail and real estate.
Billionaire and life-long Manchester United fan, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is also expected to put a bid in for the club. The owner of Team Ineos, which acquired OGC Nice in 2019 said in August that he wanted to buy United, but was told by the Glazers it wasn’t for sale.
