Zara founder Amancio Ortega has expressed an interest in buying Manchester United after the Glazers announced they have put the club up for sale.
The American-based billionaires have decided to sell the Red Devils, 17 years after they took full control of the club. The Red Devils announced in a statement that the Glazers were exploring "strategic alternatives" and it is understood they will sell to the highest bidder.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Ortega has informed senior executives of his interest in United and is keen to lodge an offer to buy the Red Devils. The 86-year-old is worth £52.5billion, as per Forbes, and founded worldwide fashion brand Zara, who have chains around the globe.
Ortega, who also owns 59 per cent of Inditex, last year appointed his daughter, Maria Ortega Perez, as the chairwoman of Zara while he looked to invest some of his money elsewhere. Ortega has an impressive track record in real estate, particularly in major cities including London, New York, Miami, Barcelona and Madrid, among other. Despite his strong business acumen, to date he has not taken the plunge by investing in the sporting world.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that technology giants Apple are also keen on buying the Red Devils. They have no experience of owning a football club the size of United, although CEO Tim Cook is keen to explore the opportunities owning United could provide.
Apple are by far the largest technology company on the planet with an annual revenue of almost £400bn and their products are sold all over the world. The California-based firm was founded as Apple Computer Company in 1976, but it wasn't until the 21st century that the tech giants grew rapidly to become the first publicly traded US company to be valued at over £830bn ($1 trillion).
Cook has plans to build a new state-of-the-art stadium that would be regarded as the best in the world. Although some United fans would likely be against that idea due to the history and tradition surrounding Old Trafford, others would no doubt welcome the idea of transforming the club.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a United fan, is set to lodge a bid to buy the Red Devils after rejecting the chance to purchase Liverpool. The 70-year-old wanted to commit to Nice and continue with their development, but Ratcliffe could now be swayed to return home and purchase his boyhood club with the Glazers looking to sell.
According to the Independent, Ratcliffe believes the opportunity is "too tempting and unique" to not engage in the process having snubbed Liverpool. He is expected to face competition from a number of parties, one who also attempted to buy Chelsea, but that list is expected to grow as potential buyers now announce their intentions.
