A report in British tabloid the Daily Star suggested that tech giant Apple was considering buying Manchester United in a AU$10.4 billion deal, but it’s probably not going to happen.
United’s American owners, the Glazer family, put the club up for sale this week, following extended periods of protest by fans. Under the Glazers’ tutelage, United has experienced a remarkable fall from grace, culminating in Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
The Star claimed that while Apple has “no experience” in owning a football club the size of United, CEO Tim Cook was “keen to explore the opportunities owning United could provide” and had been looking to “line up talks with the banks appointed to oversee the sale, which include The Raine Group.”
The tabloid also said that Cook’s plan for United would involve constructing a brand new stadium to replace the dilapidated Old Trafford.
MacRumours, which breaks many stories relating to the tech company, said that the report in the Star was “false.”
Citing a source “with direct knowledge” of the situation, the tech blog rubbished the story.
“While it has no plans to buy Manchester United, Apple has been pushing into sports content. The company partnered with the MLB to air a weekly “Friday Night Baseball” doubleheader on Apple TV+ during the 2022 regular season, and it will be the exclusive provider of MLS games for the next 10 years. Apple is reportedly also considered a frontrunner for streaming rights to the NFL’s Sunday Ticket package starting next season.”
Of course, it would be faintly ridiculous for Apple to buy Manchester United. The tech company would be taking hold of a huge, costly asset which it has no experience with controlling. It also wouldn’t represent a good look for Apple as brand. The California company has based its entire outward image on being better than rivals and unquestionably superior — something that Manchester United patently isn’t.
