You've probably seen the headlines. Cristiano Ronaldo and Conor McGregor have both talked about buying Manchester United. Sounds exciting, right? But here's the reality check – their bank accounts tell a very different story.
Ronaldo's got serious money in the bank. We're talking about £900 million in net worth. That's massive, but here's the thing – United are valued at a staggering £4 billion. Even CR7 would need some very wealthy friends to pull that off.
McGregor's wallet is a bit lighter. The UFC legend has around £150 million to his name. That's still incredible money for most of us, but it's pocket change when you're talking about buying one of football's biggest clubs.
What They've Actually Said About Buying United
Ronaldo's been pretty serious about it lately. At the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards in 2024, he didn't hold back. The 41-year-old said he could fix United's problems if he took charge, pointing out that the issues go way beyond just the manager.
McGregor's approach? A bit more playful. Back in 2021, he stirred things up on social media asking fans what they thought about him buying the Red Devils. He later said he's definitely interested in owning a sports team someday, mentioning both United and Celtic as possibilities.
Ronaldo's actually taken his first step into club ownership. His CR7 Sports company just bought 25% of Spanish second-tier side Almeria. He called it a long-held ambition to contribute to football beyond playing. With his £178 million annual salary from Al-Nassr, he's got the cash flow to make moves.
The Reality of a Takeover
Here's what punters need to know. The Glazers still own the majority of United, and they're massively unpopular with fans. Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a minority stake through INEOS three years ago and now runs football operations. His cost-cutting measures haven't exactly won hearts either.
Ratcliffe's got big plans though. He recently stated that Manchester United will become the most profitable football club in the world. That's the vision – whether it happens is another question entirely.
For either Ronaldo or McGregor to seriously buy United, they'd need major backing. We're talking billionaire investors, consortium deals, the works. It's not impossible, but it's definitely not happening with just their personal wealth.
The good news? Michael Carrick's doing well as interim boss on the pitch. The team's showing signs of improvement, which could affect their odds in upcoming matches. But off the field, the ownership situation remains United's biggest question mark.
