Toto Wolff’s favourite manager will rile Man Utd fans during takeover talks

Toto Wolff’s verdict on his favourite manager in the Premier League may upset some fans of Manchester United after fuelling speculation he could invest in the club. Mercedes F1 team boss Wolff has said he would be interested in joining Sir Jim Ratcliffe in his bid to become a minority shareholder in the Red Devils – but he is a big fan of rival Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

“I’m a Premier League fan, I think it’s the toughest environment,” the Austrian told Sky Sports F1 at the Brazilian GP when asked if he supported a particular club. “I’m a Pep Guardiola fan, so I guess that’s not compatible.”

While some United fans might be miffed by the admission, they will be more cross knowing the Mercedes boss believes he won’t be involving himself with any club matters for the foreseeable future, if he is to be believed.

“I had a Press Association [interview] before that and they were asking what I thought about Jim’s investment and whether I would join in and I said, ‘He’s such a clever person, if I could contribute we would have a chat,’ but no, that’s very far away,” Wolff revealed.

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Wolff being asked about his potential involvement with United makes sense considering Ratcliffe is set to invest £245million in United’s facilities after acquiring a 25 percent stake in the club. The lack of up-to-date facilities was something Cristiano Ronaldo criticised when he returned to Old Trafford for a brief spell.

“Nothing changed, surprisingly. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym,” Ronaldo said to Piers Morgan in an explosive interview in late 2022. “Even the kitchen, the chefs, whom I appreciate – lovely people. [United] stopped in time. It surprised me a lot.

“I thought I would see other things, technologies and infrastructure. Unfortunately, we see a lot of what I used to see at 21, 22, and 23 years old. It really surprised me. Since Ferguson left, I haven’t seen an evolution at the club. Progress is zero. You have to tear it down and rebuild it. If they start with me, it’s not a problem.”

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The 71-year-old businessman’s stake is worth around £1.5 billion and while Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani was considered to be among the favorites to take full control of the club, it has been reported the Glazer family prefers Ratcliffe’s minority investment.

United’s American owners have not been the most popular considering the club’s mediocre form in recent years. The club currently sits in eighth in the table, narrowly defeating Fulham, 1-0, thanks to Bruno Fernandes goal in stoppage time.

With the club sorely needing an injection of life, Ratcliffe and Wolff certainly would have been an exemplary duo to infuse some energy into a side lacking it. Considering Wolff’s track record of success at Mercedes, he certainly could have helped.

For instance, Wolff joined Mercedes in 2013 and under his leadership, the team won seven consecutive championships with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosenberg winning six and one, respectively. He’s also not one to run away from failure, usually owning up to them which leads to honest conversations with those around the team.

While running Mercedes, Wolff has fostered a culture of prioritizing success over profits, which some United fans believe is lacking with the Glazers as owners.

And while some fans dream of Wolff and Ratcliffe taking over their beloved club, they might have to come to terms knowing Wolff has an affinity for Guardiola.

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