Rory McIlroy open to prospect of investing in Manchester United

Rory McIlroy said he is open to the prospect of investing in Manchester United and welcomed Jim Ratcliffe's proposed involvement with his boyhood club.

The 34-year-old, who helped Europe win the Ryder Cup in Rome a few weeks ago, was speaking at the Circuit of Americas in Texas after acquiring a stake in Formula One team Alpine.

McIlroy, former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua, Liverpool and England star Trent Alexander-Arnold and World Cup winner Juan Mata have been announced as part of a £173million (€198.2m) strategic investment led by consortium Otro Capital in Alpine.

Ratcliffe, 71, is reportedly looking to purchase a 25% stake in United that could see him take over football operations at Old Trafford.

And McIlroy said: "Sports team ownership used to be limited to private equity, and people who had a ton of money. But now sports stars are becoming more savvy and using their money in the right way.

"I would love to be able to own a tiny percentage of the club I grew up cheering on as a boy.

"I would have loved to have taken 0.00001% of Manchester United when Jim Ratcliffe took 25%. And if another opportunity comes my way I will look at it. But it is not something that has come across our table as of yet.

"There is Tom Brady at Birmingham and there are a few golfers - Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas - who invested with the 49ers Group, and they own a tiny slice of Leeds. They asked me if I wanted to come on board, and I said as a Man United fan I cannot go anywhere near that.

"Sir Jim has got a great track record and everybody that does support United should be excited by the possibilities if they give him full sporting authority and decisions for the club. As a fan I am excited."

McIlroy finished as Europe's top