Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur, Football
Nasir Jabbar
Mark Zuckerberg attempted a sensational £1 BILLION takeover of a Premier League club that would've sent shockwaves through football.
Zuckerberg is best known for launching Facebook and has a staggering net worth of $254 billion.
And, in 2017, he expressed an interest in buying Tottenham in a deal worth £1 billion, claimed The Sunday Times.
An American investment firm backed by Zuckerberg looked into acquiring the North London outfit as Iconiq Capital, who handle the tech billionaire's funds, spoke to several buyout firms about a possible deal, having mauled over a bid since 2014.
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The offer was rejected by then-Spurs owner Joe Lewis, who held out for a whopping $2 billion.
Spurs, who had been looking to secure fresh investment to help fund the construction of their new stadium, denied claims they were in talks with Zuckerberg over the sale of the club.
"The board is not in any discussions relating to a takeover offer for the club," a statement read.
"The club engaged Rothschild to secure the funding for the new stadium. As expected many proposals came forward including bank debt and equity investment.
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"The club announced on 31 May 2017 the completion of the bank debt financing for the new stadium with a consortium of banks involving Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and HSBC Bank plc.
"The board believes this was the optimum solution in the interests of fans, employees and shareholders and for the continued development of the club."
In 2022, Lewis stepped back from his publicly stated position.
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Spurs are 86.58 per cent owned by ENIC and the investment company itself is 70.12 per cent owned by the Lewis Family Trust.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and certain members of his family hold the other 29.88 per cent of ENIC.
Levy is the longest-serving chairman of any top flight English club, having replaced Alan Sugar in 2001.
But he has a spiky relationship with Spurs fans, owing to the club's lack of silverware.
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More than 1,000 supporters attended a protest against the club's ownership and Levy before Sunday's match against Manchester United.
There were chants of 'Levy out' and 'ENIC out' as fans brought flags and banners to the protest.
If Zuckerberg reignited his pursuit for Spurs, then it could be a different story amid the club's situation.