{"id":1181223,"date":"2022-08-17T12:11:17","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T12:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/08\/17\/elon-musk-sends-social-media-into-frenzy-with-joke-about-buying-man-utd\/"},"modified":"2022-08-17T12:11:17","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T12:11:17","slug":"elon-musk-sends-social-media-into-frenzy-with-joke-about-buying-man-utd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/08\/17\/elon-musk-sends-social-media-into-frenzy-with-joke-about-buying-man-utd\/","title":{"rendered":"Elon Musk sends social media into frenzy with joke about buying Man Utd"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Elon Musk is reported to have a net worth of $270bn (\u00a3223bn) according to Forbes\/ Credit: Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

It was news no-one expected, and for a while it sent social media and the football world into a frenzy.<\/p>\n

Was the world\u2019s richest man going to buy Manchester United?<\/p>\n

Just after 01:00 BST on Wednesday, Elon Musk \u2013 who is reported to have a net worth of $270bn (\u00a3223bn) according to Forbes \u2013 posted on Twitter: \u201cAlso, I\u2019m buying Manchester United ur welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cue pandemonium on the social network, with the American\u2019s tweet receiving more than 400,000 likes.<\/p>\n

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Also, I\u2019m buying Manchester United ur welcome<\/p>\n

\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

It has been a painful start to the new season for United.<\/p>\n

They are bottom of the Premier League after two defeats, star player Cristiano Ronaldo\u00a0could leave,\u00a0while\u00a0new signings are failing to materialise.<\/p>\n

Their fans are restless, and earlier this week the Manchester United Supporters Trust\u00a0said\u00a0it will \u201cdemand answers\u201d from those running the club after a \u201chumiliatingly bad\u201d start to the season.<\/p>\n

The club has been in decline since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as manager in 2013, and fingers have been pointed at the Glazer family, who have owned the club since 2005.<\/p>\n

There have been multiple protests against the Glazers\u2019 ownership in recent years \u2013 including one in May 2021 which caused the Red Devils\u2019 match against Liverpool to be postponed.<\/p>\n

United fans are planning another protest against the American family during their latest meeting with their bitter rivals on Monday.<\/p>\n

Some fans welcomed Musk\u2019s interest in their club, which was valued at $4.6bn (\u00a33.8bn) by\u00a0Forbes earlier this year.<\/p>\n

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Former Liverpool and Netherlands winger Ryan Babel saw an opportunity.<\/p>\n

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Now i need to buy Man United stock got dammit lol<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ryan Babel (@Ryanbabel) August 17, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Other fans wondered what a club run by Musk would look like, given he also owns rocket company SpaceX and electric car company Tesla.<\/p>\n

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But the thought of Musk branching out into football was short-lived.<\/p>\n

Musk, who has more than 103 million followers on Twitter and is currently trying to unwind his $44bn (\u00a336.3bn) offer to buy it, later clarified he was just joking.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, United did not comment on the speculation.<\/p>\n

Just as the UK was waking up, Musk was asked if he was \u201cserious\u201d about the bid, and replied at 5:34 BST: \u201cNo, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I\u2019m not buying any sports teams.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cStand-up is my side-hustle.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it turns out he is fan of the Red Devils, tweeting: \u201cAlthough, if it were any team, it would be Man U. They were my fav team as a kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

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No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I\u2019m not buying any sports teams.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U. They were my fav team as a kid.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

You never know what the future holds.<\/p>\n

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Just woke up from a crazy dream. Elon Musk said he was going to buy Manchester United.<\/p>\n

Anyway, going back to sleep now.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ryan (@Itshaber) August 17, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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