Tesla CEO Elon Musk Tweets 'I am buying Manchester United'; later denies saying he was joking

World's richest and Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk on Wednesday tweeted on a micro-blogging site that he was buying English football club Manchester United.

This has come after Musk's failed Twitter takeover bid that has left Tesla chief in an arduous legal battle.

"I'm buying Manchester United ur welcome" Musk, known for his irreverent tweets, posted on Twitter.

Also, I’m buying Manchester United ur welcome

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022

Later Musk, when asked about fans if he is really serious and buying Manchester United, denied saying 'No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I'm not buying any sports team."

No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022

Musk's tweet garnered tens of thousands of likes within minutes and triggered hilarious responses from social media users.

“If they keep playing like they have been you'll get a discount,” wrote one user.

Another replied, “United players finally going to be dangerous in Space.”

Many pointed to his recent flip-flop over the deal with Twitter.

The latest tweets, even though Musk specified they were a joke and were made when US markets were closed, could potentially also attract regulatory attention, given that Manchester United securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Manchester United is valued at $4.6 billion, according to Forbes.

The American Glazer family, which controls the club, has been facing the ire of the Manchester United fans due to the team's struggles on the pitch.

Manchester United, which has won a record 13 Premier League titles, is currently last on the table after a disastrous start to the season under new coach Erik ten Hag. It lost its two opening games including a 4-0 defeat to Brentford on the weekend.

Manchester United won its last Premier League title under legendary coach Alex Ferguson in the 2012-13 season and has since fallen behind crosstown rival Manchester City, which has won four of the past five titles.

Musk has a history of being unconventional and posting irreverent tweets, making it difficult sometimes to tell when he is joking.

"Next I'm buying Coca-Cola to put the cocaine back in," he tweeted on April 27, two days after Twitter's board accepted his unsolicited offer to buy the company.

Referring back to that post, on Wednesday he tweeted: "And I'm not buying Coca-Cola to put the cocaine back in, despite the extreme popularity of such a move."

And I’m not buying Coca-Cola to put the cocaine back in, despite the extreme popularity of such a move

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2022