A smiling Max Verstappen.
Red Bull jokingly cleared up any ‘rumours’ that Max Verstappen might be about to head into football, after the company expanded their sporting empire into the English game.
Red Bull became front-of-shirt sponsors for Championship side Leeds United on a multi-year agreement on Thursday, with the company also taking a minority ownership stake in the club as they expand their vast interest in football through the part-ownership of multiple clubs around the world.
Red Bull clear up ‘rumours’ Max Verstappen may be about to head into football
Additional reporting by Sam Cooper
Following the announcement of Leeds’ minority stake and sponsorship, Red Bull Racing humorously stated on X (formerly Twitter) that their star driver was not open to a career exchange.
Verstappen’s picture surfaced, donning a football kit, alongside the esteemed three-time World Champion. They were seen participating in the renowned Monaco World Stars football match, which takes place prior to a past Monaco Grand Prix.
The caption posted by the team reads: “To clarify the rumors, @Max33Verstappen will NOT be joining @LUFC for the 2024/25 season ❌”
Just to put an end to the rumours… @Max33Verstappen will NOT be joining @LUFC for their 2024/25 season ❌@RedBullUK || #RedBullRacing https://t.co/uRRIktkcMX pic.twitter.com/ryjIy1BZgX
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) May 30, 2024
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Verstappen was asked if he would be watching the Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley on Saturday, as it is the final weekend of the club football season in Europe.
He informed the media, including PlanetF1.com in Monaco, that since his teams (Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven) are not in the final, it is inconsequential to him which team emerges as the winner.
“I enjoy watching it. I will definitely tune in. However, when you don’t have a specific favorite, you simply hope for an entertaining game ahead, don’t you? So, yeah, I really hope that’s the case.”
Additionally, it is possible that for certain players, sporadically and occasionally, their upcoming match could mark the end of their journey with their respective teams. As a result, it is expected to evoke strong emotions, particularly in the Champions League, involving two players from opposing teams.
“Yeah, I find it to be quite special, so I’m really looking forward to watching it.”
Oops, I forgot to include this in case you wanted it.
Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff expressed his excitement about the partnership between Red Bull and Leeds United, emphasizing that Leeds United is a prominent club in England with a remarkable history of success. He further highlighted the shared goal of bringing Leeds United back to the Premier League and establishing a strong presence in the world’s top football league, a vision that aligns perfectly with Red Bull’s ambitions.
We eagerly anticipate the partnership and hold a positive and enthusiastic outlook for the future.
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