Hugh Jackman has confirmed he is in talks to buy a minority stake in Norwich City, raising the prospect of the Hollywood actor becoming involved in the Championship club.
The 57-year-old Australian said he was “very, very interested” in investing in the Canaries during an interview with talkSPORT. Norwich later confirmed that discussions with Jackman were ongoing.
“I’m very, very interested – and talking about it right now,” Jackman said when asked about the possibility of entering English football.
Hugh Jackman backs Norwich City manager Philippe Clement
Jackman also offered his support to Norwich manager Philippe Clement, despite the club’s difficult opening to the Championship season.
“Fantastic,” he said of Clement’s work. “Look at that turnaround. We were the top team in the second half of last year. The season’s just begun. We’re going to get going.”
Norwich is controlled by Norfolk Holdings, the group led by American businessman Mark Attanasio, who holds majority control of the club. The proposed investment would see Jackman join the ownership structure without replacing Clement in the dugout.
The actor’s support for Norwich is rooted in his family connections. His mother, Grace, was born in the city, and Jackman has attended matches at Carrow Road over the years.
He previously revealed that he turned down an opportunity to invest in the club in 2010, a decision he later admitted regretting. The latest talks have reopened the possibility of him becoming a shareholder.
Norwich City investment could set up Wrexham rivalry
If an agreement is reached, Jackman could find himself on the opposite side of a Championship rivalry to his friend and Deadpool & Wolverine co-star Ryan Reynolds.
Reynolds co-owns Wrexham with Rob McElhenney, and Jackman joked: “Good on Ryan, you do your thing, I’m all about the Canaries.”
Jackman went further by predicting that both clubs would win promotion to the Premier League this season, although Norwich and Wrexham have each made uneven starts to their campaigns.
