It's not true — Nice president dispels report claiming Man United co-owners want to sell Nice
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Jean Pierre Rivere (president de l OGC Nice) - Jim Ratcliffe (President d INEOS) FOOTBALL : OGC Nice vs Paris SG - Ligue 1 Uber Eats - Nice || Image credit: Imago

It's not true — Nice president dispels report claiming Man United co-owners want to sell Nice

Faruq Ibrahim 21:48 - 09.06.2024

OGC Nice president Jean-Piere Rivere addressed the reports stating that Sir Jim Ratcliffe planned to sell the club to focus on Manchester United.

OGC Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere has come out to dispel reports claiming that his bosses were prepared to sell the Ligue 1 side, as INEOS wanted to focus on their new acquisition, Manchester United

INEOS plot Nice sale

As Pulse Sports relayed, The Independent reported that Manchester United's minority shareholder INEOS are prepared to sell French club Nice to focus fully on the Red Devils.

Manchester United risked not participating in the Europa League, as another INEOS-owned club, Nice, qualified for the competition. 

However, it is reported that UEFA have given them a bye for a transitional one-year period, meaning both sides can compete in Europe's second-tier competition next season, despite having an owner in common. 

Manchester United’s minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Old Trafford | Imago
Manchester United’s minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Old Trafford | Imago

INEOS is looking to avoid a similar headache in the future and is now looking to part ways with their majority shares in Nice. 

Other than Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s reported interest in focusing on his boyhood club as a reason for the proposed sale, the financial landscape of French football is also a contributing factor, with the league yet to seal a broadcaster for next season.  

What Rivere said 

Speaking to L’Equippe, the football administrator stated unequivocally that the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-led company remains committed to their ownership of Nice and has no plans of selling their majority stake in the club. 

Jean Pierre Rivere (president de l OGC Nice) - Jim Ratcliffe (President d INEOS) FOOTBALL : OGC Nice vs Paris SG - Ligue 1 Uber Eats - Nice || Image credit: Imago
Jean Pierre Rivere (president de l OGC Nice) - Jim Ratcliffe (President d INEOS) FOOTBALL : OGC Nice vs Paris SG - Ligue 1 Uber Eats - Nice || Image credit: Imago

“The owner’s objective is absolutely not to sell the club. If the club was for sale, I’d tell you willingly because it’s not murder or shameful to put a club up for sale,” he told L’Equippe.

“But, I’ll repeat myself, that isn’t the case. But, if one day it does go up for sale, there wouldn’t be any problem because [the club] is healthy and structured.”

Despite the comments from Rivere, L’Equippe went on to confirm the earlier reports from The Independent, citing confidential sources.

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