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What's the rumour?
The news outlets are abuzz with reports of a potentially sensational bid by 11-time Boxing World Champion, Floyd Mayweather, for Premier League football club Newcastle United!
The Express claims that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley came close to agreeing to a sale of the club with Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners until he publicly broke off communication, tagging them “time-wasters”.
The camaraderie the two most highly-paid athletes in the world - Mayweather and Cristiano Ronaldo - share is common knowledge and the former is hoping he can get the 5-time Ballon d'Or winner to finish his career at the north-east England club.
In case you didn't know...
Although other celebrity names have been incorrectly linked as possible buyers of the football club in the past - including WWE chairman Vince McMahon in 2017 - Mayweather offered the tease himself.
Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) returned to the ring after two years last August to defeat UFC champion Conor McGregor by 10th-round TKO in their much-hyped showdown. "Money" reportedly earned upwards of $300 million for the bout, which was similar to the figure he won by defeating Manny Pacquiao in their record-breaking 2015 bout.
The heart of the matter
The boxing hall of famer has enjoyed associations in all walks of life and "soccer" is no different. Mayweather went on to claim that he might be able to get the Real Madrid superstar to sign off his career at Newcastle United if he does take over reins at the club.
"Cristiano Ronaldo has been a long-time supporter and buddy of mine, so I might even be able to get him to finish his career off at Newcastle," said Mayweather amid speculations that he might make a move to the UFC.
The Newcastle management meanwhile, is in a rush to get the club off their hands as they are in the market for potential suitors and the boxer has thrown his hat into the ring.
Rumour rating/probability: 3/10
The five-division boxing champion did, however, admit that the particular sport might not be among his favourites, so it seems highly unlikely. That, to add to the astronomical odds against the Portuguese coming to Newcastle, but his tendency to make investments in other sports is well documented so a move cannot be completely ruled out.
Video: Mayweather's celebrity friends
Author's take
Sounds a bit too good to be true, doesn't it? Charismatic boxing legend teaming up with an even more charismatic footballer at one of the most revered football clubs in English football history does seem like the stuff of dreams.
But nothing would excite the fans more, of that I'm certain. A shot in the arm of Newcastle's popularity might not be the worst thing in the world for them either.
