Tennis icon Novak Djokovic has expanded his investment portfolio by acquiring a co-ownership stake in French Ligue 2 club Le Mans FC. The move sees Djokovic join forces with prominent figures from the world of motorsport, including former Formula 1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen.

The newly promoted club made the announcement on Friday, revealing that the investment is spearheaded by Brazilian group OutField, an international consortium co-founded by Pedro Olivera. Georgios Frangulis, CEO of global health-food brand OakBerry, is also part of the investment group. Frangulis has experience in sports management, as he is active in the management of Brazilian club Coritiba. He presented the Le Mans FC project to Djokovic, which sparked the tennis star's interest.

Le Mans FC emphasized Djokovic's mental fortitude and unique approach, believing they will bring considerable added value to the club. The club also highlighted the connection between football and motorsport that Massa and Magnussen bring, which is a distinctive strength of the Le Mans brand. The city of Le Mans is famous for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. The investment group aims to capitalize on the momentum of French football, which is currently attracting significant investment. Their goal is to return Le Mans to the top-tier Ligue 1.

Le Mans FC has a rich history and competed in the strongest French league for a long time. The club begins their Ligue 2 campaign on August 9, away at Guingamp.

Djokovic's investment in Le Mans FC adds to a growing trend of athletes investing in sports teams.