French club OGC Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère has denied claims that owners INEOS have decided to put the club on sale.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the owner of Nice and Swiss club Lausanne and has also acquired a 27.7% minority stake in English side Manchester United. However, the Glazers still hold the major part of the shares of the PL club.
Ratcliffe has worked hard to convince Man City CEO Omar Berrada to join Old Trafford and has also begun his word of revamping the backroom staff at the club.
There were reports from the Independent claiming that the INEOS chief is also looking to sell the Ligue 1 side to abide by UEFA rules.
Nice has secured a spot in the Europa League for the 2024/25 season and that has put the owners in a spot to worry. The 71-year-old has been successful in convincing the UEFA board to let Man United and Nice compete together in the European competitions.
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However, this is not a long-term solution and the rules are set to become more strict next year. Hence, as per reports Ratcliffe wants to place his full focus on United, a club that he dreamed of signing for years.
He is ready to sell Nice amid widespread uncertainty over the French league’s TV broadcasting issues. Ligue 1 is finding it difficult to secure a broadcasting partner for the upcoming season and that could have a major impact on the club’s financial goals.
By looking at these aspects it seems logical for the owner to look for a long-term fix for this problem. However, Nice president Rivère has denied reports that Ratcliffe and his team have put the club for sale.
While talking to L’Equipe, he said:
“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. 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.”
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Rivère did accept the fact that the club might go for sale one day even if it’s not the case at this moment. Man United are at a better place but so is Nice.
Securing a spot in the Europa League will be beneficial for them but the French club’s plans will be impacted if the league fails to secure the broadcasting deal.
Although UEFA has permitted INEOS to let both their clubs play in the same European competition, they can turn the decision next season. This might pose a challenge for the owners.
It remains to be seen whether they come up with a new plan or decide to put the Ligue 1 club for sale.
