Seven-time Forumla 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has left the door open to team up with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe in buying Manchester United.
The F1 star, who drives for Mercedes, has declared himself to be an Arsenal fan in the past – but he was named as part of Sir Martin Broughton’s consortium that was interested in buying Chelsea earlier this year.
Meanwhile, it is understood that Ratcliffe has turned his attention to Manchester United, with the Glazer family under increased pressure to sell as supporters protest at every home match this season.
Ahead of the Grand Prix in the Netherlands on Sunday, Hamilton was asked whether he would be interested in being involved in a potential takeover at United.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of it, so I haven’t had time to catch up with Jim since I was in Namibia, which I need to do because he goes to Namibia quite often,” Hamilton said, as per The Express.
“Jim’s part boss but partner – I’d say we’re more partners because we’re in this together, and I hope in future to do something with Jim and build with him. I don’t know where that will be or what that will be, so I can’t really say.
“I haven’t had a call from him asking if I want to be involved in that (a United bid) just yet. But I do want to get more and more involved in teams because I really do believe in black ownership, there is a lack of it in sports. And black equity, again, there is a real lack of that.”
Ratcliffe has not made his intentions clear for United – if he was successful in his quest to buy the club, and I think we should hold off on any premature judgements even though he’s bound to be better than the Glazers.
All I’m saying is it’s hard to trust someone we know little about.