British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is interested in buying Manchester United

Ronaldo is a substitute in United's debut 0:29

(CNN) --

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe on Tuesday expressed interest in buying Manchester United if the club is for sale.

In an email to CNN Sport, a spokesperson for Ratcliffe confirmed his interest in the renowned Premier League club, stating: "We are simply confirming interest in the club if it is for sale."

According to Forbes, Manchester United is valued at $4.6 billion.

The team controlled by the Glazer family — which also owns the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers — is one of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, but hasn't won the English Premier League since 2013.

Ratcliffe's interest follows a report by Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, that the Glazer family is open to selling a minority stake in the Premier League club to a US investment firm.

Ratcliffe is a majority shareholder in chemical group INEOS and has expressed an interest in buying Manchester United if the club is for sale.

Rumors that the club was for sale surfaced on Tuesday after Elon Musk tweeted that he was buying the team, later clarifying that his statement was part of a long-running joke and that he was not buying any sports clubs.

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CNN has contacted the Glazer family and Manchester United and has not received confirmation that the club is for sale.

Ratcliffe is the majority shareholder of the chemical group INEOS, owner of the French Nice, the Swiss club Lausanne-Sport, the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team and associated with the Mercedes Formula 1 team.

In May, Ratcliffe made a last-minute bid to buy Chelsea FC but lost out to Todd Boehly's consortium.

The Manchester United Supporters Trust released a statement addressing rumors of a possible change in ownership.

In the text it states: "There is speculation about a possible change of ownership or new investors in Manchester United. Although the fans have asked for a change, of course this has to be a correct change. Any possible owner or investor has to be committed. with the culture, spirit and best traditions of the club. They have to be willing to invest to bring United back to its former glories, and that investment has to be real new money spent on the playing side and in the stadium."

Manchester United have struggled since the departure of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 and are currently bottom of the Premier League, having lost both of their games in the current season.

CNN's Diksha Madhok contributed reporting.

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