August 5 – Tennis icon Novak Djokovic and former Formula 1 stars Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen have joined an investment group to acquire Ligue 2 outfit Le Mans FC.
The group will be led by OAKBERRY CEO Georgios Frangulis and the Brazilian investment firm OutField.
The new ownership plans to capitalise on the city’s identity as home to one of racing’s most glamorous events, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as the Le Mans Classic, and MotoGP.
As with many clubs, branding is the key driver. However, this group is taking it a step further with the glamour and prestige of motorsports.
The key to this success lies in the recipe of talents participating in this project.
Frangulis, the boyfriend of three-time women’s Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka, built up his ‘healthy fast food’ chain into a global brand, while OutField has hands-on experience in football running Coritiba FC.
Djokovic, Massa, and Magnussen aren’t just writing checks either—they’re bringing worldwide recognition. However, they are being tight-lipped about the asking price.
They aren’t coming in with a broom, though. The new owners are ensuring that local management and technical staff stay on. The move also reflects a growing trend of sports stars investing in football.