21-05-2025
Rory McIlroy's private jet makes surprise return to Ireland for quick pitstop
Rory McIlroy had a fleeting visit to Northern Ireland after his private jet briefly landed at Belfast City Airport on Wednesday morning for under an hour.
McIlroy's plush Gulfstream G650ER touched down at George Best Belfast City Airport, clocking in at 6.41am, only to jet off again at 7.26am.
The swanky £38m jet has now reached Bilbao Airport. It's widely rumoured that McIlroy, who's a die-hard Manchester United supporter, is popping over to watch tonight's Europa League final.
The golf ace is expected to support the Red Devils as they go head-to-head with Tottenham Hotspur at Athletic Bilbao's stadium.
Both Premier League giants have a chance tonight to turn their domestic seasons around, with their eyes set on securing a berth in next season's Champions League, reports Belfast Live.
Following McIlroy's epic win at the Masters, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim sent out an invite through a video message.
Amorim expressed: "Hi Rory. Congratulations for the Masters, and I want to invite you to Old Trafford to show your trophy.
"It is really important for us in this moment. You achieved something a lot of people thought that would be impossible and we want that feeling in our stadium.
"So I hope to see you soon at Old Trafford and to meet you."
Quizzed about whether he'd show off the Green Jacket at Old Trafford after his Augusta triumph, he quipped: "If it can inspire some better play, absolutely."
The five-time major champion has hinted before at the prospect of chipping in financially with his boyhood club in the future.
He mentioned on Sky Sports: "Sports team ownership used to be limited to private equity, and people who had a ton of money. But now sports stars are becoming more savvy and using their money in the right way.
"I would love to be able to own a tiny percentage of the club I grew up cheering on as a boy."
