Sir Jim Ratcliffe has revealed that he does have a “split allegiance” between Chelsea and Manchester United.
Ratcliffe grew up watching United before becoming a Chelsea season ticket holder when he moved to London. He is now attempting to buy the Blues, but when asked about his loyalties, the billionaire admitted that he could have considered buying United if they were on the market:
“You know, I have a split allegiance, effectively, really. When I was in London for many many years, Chelsea I could go and watch, it was quite difficult to go and watch United. Yes, I mean, I can understand that [the calls to buy United] but Manchester United is not for sale.”
With United supporters desperate to get rid of the Glazers, many on Twitter have been saying they would back the British businessman if he did make a formal offer for the Red Devils:
Make them an offer they can’t refuse then!
— ᵀᵘʳᵏⁱˢʰᴾʳⁱᵈᵉ (@TheTurkishPride) May 4, 2022
Put an offer in and see.
— Angusrockstar1980 (@Angusrockstar1) May 4, 2022
Im sure if you wave your cheque book in the glazers face they’d look your way 🤷🏼♀️
— Emma💙🇾🇪🔴 (@EmmaHam41) May 4, 2022
Please buy us 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
— harris (@harris61774736) May 4, 2022
Give the Glazers a way out PLEASE!
— AndrewCPierce (@GrAndyPierce) May 5, 2022
Buy us please
— HYS Football 🇺🇦 (@HYSFootball) May 4, 2022
Please bid I beg
— CrispyGod (@jayczepiel_10) May 4, 2022
Everything has a price
— Jaden 🔰 (@utd__jaden) May 4, 2022
We can make it for sale
— jack forrester (@_jackforrester7) May 4, 2022
Just put in a bid of 5 billion I say
— Taz (@tarumsamra) May 4, 2022
You put up a bid and we do the rest, pls Jim
— VG🔰 (@vanjagajic2005) May 4, 2022
With American billionaire Todd Boehly now increasingly likely to beat Ratcliffe in the battle to buy Chelsea, it will be interesting to see what the 69-year-old decides to do next.
It does seem like a bid for United is a remote possibility at this stage, and he does already own another football club, Nice, so it’s likely that he will refocus his efforts on the Ligue One side instead.