Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS firm are reportedly preparing to release a statement on their ownership of OGC Nice.
Ratcliffe criticised for his management of Nice
Ratcliffe and INEOS took over Nice in 2019 after paying £89m. When he assumed control of the club, there was optimism that he would help in breaking Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance in France.
However, that has yet to materialise, and in recent months Ratcliffe has faced pressure over a perceived lack of commitment to Nice.
Since he became co-owner of United, the British businessman’s full priority has been on the Red Devils and restoring them to the pinnacle of English and European football. Many believe Nice has been pushed into the background, with United seen as the clear priority.
Earlier this year, Ratcliffe confessed that he didn’t particularly enjoy watching Nice games, as the level of football wasn’t high enough to excite him. The remarks drew a stern response from club boss Franck Haise, who slammed Ratcliffe for failing to attend even one Nice game during the 2024/25 campaign.
Now, according to ici, Ratcliffe has decided to sell Nice.
Ratcliffe makes decision on Nice
The news outlet claims that Ratcliffe is ready to part ways with his Nice project, but he is seeking €200m to do so.
It’s understood that an official announcement is imminent, with INEOS keen to provide some clarity on the situation.
ici state, “We inquired, we dug deeper, and we were told that Inéos is indeed preparing a speech in the coming days, probably in the form of an interview, to finally set a course for Nice.”
The report criticises Ratcliffe for failing to establish a mutually beneficial link between Nice and United, pointing to the French club’s struggles to secure loan moves for Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund during the summer window.
Instead, United offered another unnamed young player, who was simply considered not good enough by Nice.
The issues along with the conflict created by UEFA’s rules on multi-club ownership, strongly suggest that it’s time for Ratcliffe and Nice to separate.
Featured image by Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
