UFC star Conor McGregor has revealed talks about acquiring shares from Celtic's largest shareholder Dermot Desmond amid continued interest in buying shares in a football club.
The Irishman, 32, declared his interest in buying Manchester United a few weeks ago in the wake of the collapsed European Super League plans and continued fan unrest against the Glazer ownership.
And while 'The Notorious' said United were a 'team I liked for sure', he admitted in a Twitter Q&A that he has held talks with about acquiring shares in 51-time Scottish champions Celtic.
In response to a question asking: 'Are you actually going to buy Manchester United???', 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.'
Irish billionaire Desmond, 70, is the largest individual shareholder at Celtic with 34.7 per cent of shares, insisted as recently as March that his shares were not for sale.
Desmond also previously held a stake in Manchester United, but he then sold out to Malcolm Glazer when the American family took over the club in 2005.
McGregor's net worth, according to April estimates from Forbes, stands at an estimated £181m.
In the years since the Glazers took over at Old Trafford, their ownership of the club has been met with fierce opposition from supporters.
That anger has been exacerbated in recent weeks after the Super League fallout, with United's game against Liverpool last weekend postponed as a result of fan protests at Old Trafford.
Supporters broke into the stadium, entered the dressing room area and invaded the pitch, with more protests set to be planned this week for home games against Leicester on Tuesday and the rescheduled clash against Liverpool on Thursday.
McGregor previously revealed that United's history of success, as well as ties with Irish stars such as Roy Keane and Dennis Irwin, attracted him to the club as a youngster.
'I was attracted to the success and winning mentality of the club and people surrounded by United. Irish legends like Denis Irwin and Roy Keane were dedicated to their craft and had that winning mentality.
'Roy Keane was one of the best midfielders European football has ever seen. Opponents would be mentally beaten before they'd even stepped on to the pitch to face him.'
McGregor also described legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson as 'the don of football'.
'Then they had the don of football at the helm, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. To have that much success over such a long period is remarkable and something I continue to aspire to.
'And he did it by nurturing youngsters into stars and not by spending and spending and spending like some of these other managers. It's been great to see Sir Alex getting back to full health and continuing to be at the United games. What passion! I wish him and his family all the best.'