TheCable

Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla Inc., has sparked reactions on Twitter after he joked about buying Manchester United.

Manchester United are valued at $4.6 billion as per a report by Forbes in May 2022.

The 51-year-old billionaire sent the microblogging platform agog in the early hours of Wednesday after he announced he is buying the English football club.

“Also, I’m buying Manchester United ur welcome,” he tweeted.

Also, I’m buying Manchester United ur welcome

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022

The American — who has a net worth of $270 billion, according to Forbes — would later make a U-turn while dismissing the tweet as a joke.

Musk added that he’s not interested in acquiring any sports team.

“No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams,” Musk wrote.

No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams.

Advertisement

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022

The billionaire’s joke has stirred up a wave of reactions from Manchester United fans who appeared to have been enduring a rather tough opening of the 2022/2023 Premier League season with the team.

United are bottom of the Premier League after two defeats — the latest being a 4-0 demolition by Brentford last weekend.

The losses have riled up a section of the fan base to clamour for a change of club ownership, with the Glazers family pressured to sell the team.

Reacting to Musk’s tweet, a Twitter user begged the Tesla boss to “save the team.”

Another fan urged Musk to “stop playing with our feeling.”

Alex Shaw, the sports journalist, said the joke by Musk is a testament to the “decline” of United.

“It is crazy that Man Utd’s decline has transcended sport to the point where Elon Musk is joking about buying the club, but I also feel that without such obvious and vocal fan opposition to the Glazers, it’s unlikely he’d have noticed/tweeted that,” he wrote.

See more tweets below:

Elon Musk wants to buy Manchester United. I beg 😭🤝🫶☝🏾🤲🏾🤲🏾💭🌚 pic.twitter.com/srEOemGwih

— Faz (@planetfaz) August 17, 2022

Just woke up from a crazy dream. Elon Musk said he was going to buy Manchester United.

Anyway, going back to sleep now.

— Ryan (@Itshaber) August 17, 2022

I say we flood Elon Musk’s tweets everyday begging him to buy Manchester United

— 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (@SznTenHag) August 17, 2022

Please Save Manchester United, @elonmusk

— Al Foran (@ImpressionistAL) August 17, 2022

Mr Elon Musk stop playing with our feelings 💔 pic.twitter.com/jDIsKqySql

— Bruno_UNITED (@Bruno_UNITED1) August 17, 2022

Manchester United player's after Elon musk put chips in their brains pic.twitter.com/tmZO95mjEe

— Xirociroc♂️ (@canelo____) August 17, 2022

It is crazy that Man Utd’s decline has transcended sport to the point where Elon Musk is joking about buying the club, but I also feel that without such obvious and vocal fan opposition to the Glazers, it’s unlikely he’d have noticed / tweeted that.

— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) August 17, 2022

McTominay being subbed off for one of Elon Musk’s robots before HT will be comical https://t.co/Acf3ksccbr

— Dubois (@CFCDUBois) August 17, 2022

When Elon Musk buys us and we only spend £630m on our first window pic.twitter.com/rwlOuJBSFj

— 🎟️ (@SackOIe) August 17, 2022

Elon Musk may be joking about buying Manchester United, he may also be joking that he's joking about buying the club.

If anything, his tweet will put pressure on the Glazers to sell and also sound out serious potential buyers. Let's see.

— UtdFaithfuls (@UtdFaithfuls) August 17, 2022

How close are we to a HERE WE GO for Elon Musk to Manchester United? @FabrizioRomano

— Barstool Football (@StoolFootball) August 17, 2022