Jim Ratcliffe prefers Manchester United over OGC Nice, judging the level of play in Ligue 1 insufficient. INEOS had considered selling the Nice club, but no buyer seems to have come forward.
In an interview with the Times, Jim Ratcliffe, owner of OGC Nice and Manchester United, acknowledged not being particularly enthusiastic about following his French club. He believes that the level of play in Ligue 1 does not captivate him as much as that of the Premier League.
Jim Ratcliffe does not hide his preference for Manchester United. The British businessman, head of the INEOS group, owns both clubs, but he admitted not enjoying his visits to the Allianz Riviera.
“With Nice, in the French Championship, you can buy a club for 100 million pounds. Entry is much cheaper (than in the Premier League). But I don’t particularly like going to see Nice because there are good players but the level of football isn’t high enough to excite me,” he told the English media.
His remarks contrast with the current situation of the club from the Côte d’Azur. Third in Ligue 1, OGC Nice is having a solid season. However, Ratcliffe’s investment remains limited, mainly due to UEFA’s rules on multiple ownership. The European body indeed prohibits two clubs belonging to the same owner from competing in the same European Cup under its direct control.
This constraint has had an unexpected effect. “The best season for Nice is when we were not allowed to get involved due to the multiple ownership rules. They were so much better without our interference! There may be a lesson to be learned,” he added.
These statements will surely elicit a reaction from Nice supporters, who hoped for more committed involvement from their owner. Despite the Gym’s good results this season, the Briton appears more focused on Old Trafford than the Côte d’Azur.
Sale at a standstill?
Last year, INEOS explained that the initial steps to sell the club had begun. However, no one seemed to show interest. At that time, The Independent reported that the INEOS group wanted to part with OGC Nice. The proceedings were only just starting, but several sources claimed the British group was open to selling the club from the Côte d’Azur. This decision was motivated by the constraint of multiple ownership, but also by the desire to fully focus on the development of Manchester United, whose acquisition had been challenging. A real blow for the French Championship.
Moreover, the British media added that the collapse of the television rights market of Ligue 1 greatly complicated the situation. This uncertainty worried the English shareholders, who would have lowered their revenue forecasts linked to TV rights. For INEOS, selling Nice could therefore have been a strategic opportunity. The club from the Côte d’Azur, which had just welcomed Franck Haise and Florian Maurice to structure its sports project, had however not officially reacted to this information.