Desperate Ratcliffe rocked by fresh setback in bid to sell OGC Nice – report

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has suffered a fresh setback in his bid to offload OGC Nice. Turbulent tenure Ratcliffe acquired Nice in 2019, vowing to make it a force in the French and European football scene. However, the contrary has largely been the case. He has failed to achieve his goal, and the relationship between INEOS and the club’s supporters has never been worse. The British businessman’s 2024 takeover of United did little to improve matters, as many in Nice worried they would be forced into a secondary role. Ratcliffe later admitted that he does not enjoy watching Nice games, finding them insufficiently exciting. At present, Nice sit in 15th place in the Ligue 1 standings, having won just seven, drawn six and lost 15 of the 28 top-flight games they have played. Last year, Ratcliffe put Nice up for sale. Independent advisory firm Lazard Inc. was tasked with finding a buyer. Ratcliffe was initially seeking €200m but was forced to slash this price as no serious buyers presented themselves. In January, Bloomberg reported that the turmoil over Ligue 1 broadcasting rights had disrupted the process. Ligue 1 ended a €500m-per-year deal led by DAZN Group in favour of managing their own consumer channel. Now, journalist Romain Molina has revealed that Ratcliffe has been forced to lower his valuation of Nice even further as the situation becomes increasingly desperate. Ratcliffe hit with setback Molina wrote on X, “The more months pass, the lower the amount demanded by Ratcliffe to resell OGC Nice becomes.” “We’re a far cry from the 150 million (minimum) fantasised at the start…” Plus les mois passent, plus le montant demandé par Ratcliffe pour revendre l’OGC Nice baisse On est très loin des 150 millions (minimum) fantasmés au début… — Romain Molina (@Romain_Molina) April 6, 2026 While Molina does not reveal Ratcliffe’s current position, the mere fact that he has been compelled to reduce his asking price once more is a significant setback for the United chief. Meanwhile, United return to action on 13 April when they welcome Leeds United to Old Trafford. Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!