MERCEDES F1 chief Toto Wolff has been warned against investing in Manchester United.
Wolff has a close relationship with Sir Jim Ratcliffe due to being business partners that both own a 33 per cent stake in Mercedes’ F1 team.
The other third of the F1 team is owned by the car manufacturer itself.
Ratcliffe is expected to lean heavily on his network when his expected 25 per cent stake in Manchester United goes through.
Sir Dave Brailsford, who oversaw Ratcliffe’s investment in cycling is expected to come in to manage the sporting direction of United and appoint a new sporting director.
That’s led to speculation that Wolff could also join the club in some capacity, given his success in managing Mercedes’ F1 team.
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Two weeks ago at the Brazilian Grand Prix Wolff was asked about investing in the club by Sky Sports and said: “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.
“Our personal relationship is strong and with Ola Kallenius [Mercedes-Benz chief executive], 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.”
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But Ex-F1 and Le Mans driver Mark Blundell has warned Wolff against investing in the club, saying it will be a lot harder to pull the club in the right direction compared to overseeing an F1 team.
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Blundell spent four seasons in F1 between 1991 and 1995, racing for McLaren, Ligier, Branham and Tyrrell.
He said to OLBG: “I guess the Mercedes shareholders see him already and they’re both part of the ownership situation.
“Jim Ratcliffe has been looking at Man United for some time now, and maybe it fits.
“Perhaps Toto wants to be involved in football. It’s a different dynamic, and it’ll be difficult to control 11 Lewis Hamiltons on the pitch!
“Toto Wolff has been an incredible leader of Mercedes and he’s taking the Grand Prix team to huge peaks. Perhaps he can bring that to the Man United team.
“They’re not a small club, though, and it’ll take a lot of people to take it forward – and you can’t always do that from the directors’ box.”
Ratcliffe’s 25 per cent stake in Manchester United is expected to be confirmed by the club soon.
But he may have to wait until mid-January for the takeover to be fully confirmed, with the Premier League expected to take six to eight weeks to confirm the deal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
