Conor McGregor claims he held talks about buying Celtic shares from Dermot Desmond
- Joe Hewlett
- 11 May 2021
"I am certainly interested in acquiring a sports team at some stage! Both Celtic and Man United are teams I like for sure."
Conor McGregor has claimed he held talks with principal shareholder Dermot Desmond about buying a stake in Celtic Football Club.
The "Notorious" said Desmond - an Irish businessman worth more than €2billion - had a conversation with him about selling his shares.
The UFC superstar has previously joked about investing money into Manchester United following their ill-fated attempt of a European Super League breakaway.
McGregor said: "A conversation came up regarding Celtic first to be honest. To acquire shares from Dermot Desmond.
"I am certainly interested in acquiring a sports team at some stage! Both Celtic and Man United are teams I like for sure.
"But I am open. I feel I could do big things for a club."
Desmond, who originally invested into Celtic in the 1990s, is the majority shareholder of the Glaswegian club at 19.8%. The 70-year-old revealed in March that he was not interested in selling his stake.
He said: "I am as passionate about Celtic as any other supporter. My shares are not for sale."
McGregor, who has defeated Nate Diaz and Eddie Alvarez in the octagon, reportedly earned $85million in his defeat to Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
His career in MMA has taken a turn in recent years though, with two defeats in his last three fights against arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov and more recently Dustin Poirier.
The UFC lightweight title has remained vacant since Khabib retired but there will be a new king crowned when Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira collide this weekend.
McGregor will meet Poirier for a third time in July and victory could see him have a chance of becoming a two-time lightweight champion later this year.
"I am going to do this fight away from the family," McGregor recently said during an online Q&A.
"Fights and boppies and cuddles is a hard one to balance, I'm going into this one a wild dog."
