As reported by L’Équipe, OGC Nice are unconcerned by the situation involving their INEOS owners. Amidst Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s attempts to secure a minority stake in Manchester United, it is not thought that Les Aiglons will become a subsidiary of the Premier League side.
Following Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani’s withdrawal from the race to purchase Manchester United, Ratcliffe, who is looking to secure a 25% minority stake, is running unopposed. As reported by The Times, it is expected that INEOS will not only secure a 25% stake but also take control of the Premier League club’s sporting operations.
A sale to Saudi Arabia?
But what are the repercussions for OGC Nice – a club owned by INEOS since 2019? The topic is not taboo at Le Gym, and INEOS’ prospective involvement at Manchester United is a topic that has been addressed by the club’s employees. The message to the employees of the club is clear – Nice’s strategy for the coming years is independent of any potential stake in Manchester United, and according to L’Équipe, INEOS have no designs on selling the Riviera club. Nor will Nice become a subsidiary of the Premier League club.
However, according to Romain Molina, INEOS would look to sell Nice. The French journalist is reporting that the owners have already begun their search for a potential buyer, and have already offered the club to Saudi Arabia. The Gulf State notably has an interest in buying local rivals Olympique de Marseille.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
