Conor McGregor claims he held talks about buying Celtic shares from Dermot Desmond

Joe HewlettJoe Hewlett11 May 2021
Conor McGregor Manny Pacquiao George Foreman

Conor McGregor Manny Pacquiao George Foreman

"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."