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Elon Musk says he was joking about buying Man U

STORY: Elon Musk said on Twitter Tuesday that he'd be buying English football club Manchester United -- but followed up just four hours later saying it was all a joke.

He replied to a user asking that, "No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I'm not buying any sports teams."

The Tesla CEO and world's richest person has a history of erratic tweets.

Manchester United is currently controlled by the American Glazer family.

British newspaper The Daily Mirror reported last year that the Glazers were prepared to sell the club, but only if they were offered upwards of $4.8 billion.

Musk is currently trying to exit a $44 billion agreement to buy Twitter, which has taken him to court.

Some Manchester United fans have urged Musk to buy the club instead of buying Twitter.

Man U is one of the world's best supported football clubs, and have been English champions a record 20 times.

But in recent years fans have grown dissatisfied with the Glazer family's ownership, and perceived lack of ambition to bring in top players.

The club finished sixth in the English Premier League last season, while crosstown rivals Manchester City won a second successive title.