Toto Wolff and Rory McIlroy's £450m investment after Man Utd talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff held talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe about potentially taking part in a Manchester United takeover alongside the billionaire back in 2023. Ratcliffe's takeover was confirmed by the club on Christmas Eve that year, but Wolff has since shifted his focus toward another high-value investment opportunity.

The Austrian has served as Mercedes team principal since 2013 and is now exploring the possibility of purchasing a stake in another F1 outfit, Alpine. Several celebrity investors already hold minority interests in Otro Capital, whose 24 percent share in Alpine is reportedly being targeted in a proposal spearheaded by Wolff. According to The Telegraph, private equity group Otro value their holding at just under £450million. Alpine adviser Flavio Briatore previously suggested that former Red Bull F1 chief Christian Horner was also weighing up a bid for the same portion of shares in the team.

Otro acquired its 24 percent stake in Alpine in 2023. A statement from the team's majority owners Renault revealed that a number of sports figures were involved as 'premier investors' in Otro - including former Premier League players Juan Mata and Trent Alexander-Arnold, boxing champion Anthony Joshua, and world No.2 golfer Rory McIlroy.

During the same month that Otro's investment in Alpine was announced, Wolff spoke publicly about his conversations with Ratcliffe, whose INEOS Group acts as a principal partner of Mercedes F1. "Jim has shared the trajectory with me. I very much respect his values and we trust each other," he told the Press Association at the time.

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"I have never aimed for trophy investments but I like the competitiveness of the Premier League. Jim and Manchester United is a love story because he is born there.

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy was listed as a 'premier investor' in Otro (Image: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

"Our personal relationship is strong and with [Mercedes-Benz chief executive] Ola Kallenius, they call us the Three Amigos because we live in the no-nonsense world. If we felt I could contribute then I would consider joining him at Manchester United."

Ratcliffe's minority stake in United became official before the close of the 2023/24 season, while the Glazer family retained majority control. The British entrepreneur has overseen the club's football operations, appointing senior figures behind the scenes including CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.

United ended the Premier League campaign in eighth place during the season Ratcliffe arrived, before slipping to 15th the following year. This season, however, they currently sit third in the standings after 29 matches and remain firmly in control of their push for Champions League qualification.