Musk is not buying Man Utd but tweet reignites ownership debate to kick shares up 5%

Amid the clamour from fans for a change of ownership at Manchester United Elon Musk's tweet ignited social media — only for him to say later it was a joke

Manchester United legends Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, and George Best pictured at the launch of the Sky Sports Gold channel in 1995

Elon Musk, the world's richest person, briefly lifted the gloom over Manchester United's shares and fans on Wednesday by tweeting he was buying the English soccer club — only to say a little later it was all part of "a long-running joke".

The club is languishing at the bottom of England's Premier League and, having seen eight coaches come and go in less than 10 years, some fans and investors are wondering whether it's time for the club's owners, the American Glazer family, to sell. Enter the billionaire boss of car firm Tesla.